In the early morning hours of November 17, 2023, the life of 34-year-old Laquanda Guillory, a Black female, was tragically cut short in Opelousas, Louisiana. Guillory was arriving at a residence on Dynasty Lane when she was met with a barrage of gunfire. Fifteen rounds from a. 40-caliber handgun struck her and her vehicle. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office received a call about the shooting at approximately 5:50 a.m. and upon arrival, deputies discovered Guillory with fatal gunshot wounds.
Medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.
Deputies at the scene encountered 21-year-old Jacenta Lazare, who was waiting for Guillory's arrival armed with a fully loaded handgun. It was determined that Lazare had fired multiple shots at Guillory. Lazare was taken into custody by detectives, and a weapon was seized. She was subsequently transported to the St. Landry Parish Jail and booked on a charge of second-degree murder.
Following the initial arrest, the investigation continued, leading to a grand jury indictment. In February 2024, a St. Landry Parish Grand Jury indicted Jacenta Lazare for the second-degree murder of Laquanda Guillory. Lazare was scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment in March 2024. If convicted of the charge, she faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The case has highlighted the ongoing efforts of the local district attorney's office to combat violent crime in the area.
