In the late afternoon of May 12, 2024, a day filled with celebration turned into a scene of tragedy in New Iberia, Louisiana. Daiquan Branch, a 21-year-old Black male, was at a birthday party on Jordan Street, surrounded by friends and family. The joyous atmosphere was shattered around 5:30 p.m. when gunshots rang out, causing chaos and panic among the attendees, which included children who had been playing nearby.
In the midst of the confusion, Branch was struck by gunfire.
The violence unfolded in front of numerous witnesses, including his own young daughter. An eyewitness recounted a harrowing moment of a girlfriend attempting to shield him as he lay on the ground, trying to speak his last words. The festive gathering was irrevocably marred by the incident that cut short a young life. Branch, known affectionately as 'Boog' to his loved ones, was a father to two children.
The New Iberia Police Department launched an investigation into the deadly Mother's Day shooting. Their efforts led to the arrest of 24-year-old Devin Patterson, who was charged as an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. Authorities also identified another individual, 23-year-old Edward King Jr., as a suspect in the case. An arrest warrant was issued for King, who is wanted on charges of second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm. The community was left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a young man, while his family mourned the death of a son, father, and friend.
