In the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2024, a life was tragically cut short on the streets of Lafayette, Louisiana. Brian Amune, a 35-year-old Black male, was found lying in the roadway in the 800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive with apparent gunshot wounds. The Lafayette Police Department responded to reports of shots fired in the area around 3:30 a.m.
and discovered Amune, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time of his death, Amune was experiencing homelessness and was a familiar face in the community. He was known for pushing a basket through the neighborhood and was affectionately called the "magic man" by some residents. His death prompted calls from community members for an end to gun violence.
The investigation into Amune's homicide was carried out by the Lafayette Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. For months, detectives worked to develop leads and sought information from the public. A significant breakthrough in the case came on March 21, 2024, when a Lafayette grand jury handed down an indictment.
The grand jury indicted 18-year-old Alvin Joseph Fitch Jr. on one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Brian Amune. If convicted of this charge, Fitch Jr. faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. He is currently awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the murder.
