On a September night in Shreveport, Louisiana, the life of 26-year-old Lajah Chantilly Clarisa Small was tragically cut short. The young woman was at the Time Out! Sports Bar on September 2, 2023, when a dispute that had been escalating on social media turned violent.
The evening was bustling with patrons when the altercation erupted. In the ensuing chaos, Small was shot in the chest. A friend who was with her also sustained a gunshot wound to the leg but survived.
The incident was the culmination of a long-standing and volatile feud that had been playing out on social media platforms.
In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities identified 27-year-old Brandon Merritt as the alleged shooter. He was subsequently arrested and is facing serious charges in connection with Small's death and the injury to her friend. The Time Out! Sports Bar, which had been the scene of previous violent incidents, announced its permanent closure following the tragedy that claimed Lajah Small's life.
