In the early morning hours of April 15, 2023, the life of 26-year-old Romero “Sparky” Watkins Jr. was cut short in a fatal shooting in Hammond, Louisiana. A Black male, Watkins was discovered by Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office deputies deceased in the driver's seat of his vehicle at the intersection of Wardline and Durbin Road. The initial discovery launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Watkins was a native of Hammond and a resident of Tickfaw.
As detectives delved into the case, their investigation led them to identify a primary suspect. Just under two weeks after the shooting, on April 27, 2023, authorities took 25-year-old Jervarion “Jay” Smith of Hammond into custody without incident. Smith was subsequently booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on charges of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice, marking a significant development in the case. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office credited assistance from the public and the Louisiana State Police in helping to move the investigation forward.
The investigation also implicated another individual in connection with the crime. Also arrested was 20-year-old Lagaria “Breezy” Bryant of Amite. Bryant was charged with one count of obstruction of justice, accused of hindering the investigation into Watkins' death. Both suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law as the legal process continues to unfold.
