In the late morning of January 22, 2023, the life of 20-year-old Zaveon Willis of Lafayette, Louisiana, was cut short by gunfire. The fatal incident unfolded just before noon in the 100 block of Railroad Street, where officers from the Lafayette Police Department were dispatched following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Willis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lafayette Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the death of the young man, securing the area to gather evidence. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward and contact either the Lafayette Police Department or Lafayette Crime Stoppers. As of the latest available reports, the police are still actively searching for a suspect in connection with the killing, and no arrests have been publicly announced.
Willis himself had a history with the justice system. In July of 2021, he, along with his brother and others, was indicted on a charge of principal to first-degree murder. The charge was related to the shooting death of 30-year-old Clifton Jamal Williams on the Evangeline Thruway. However, following Willis's own death, the prosecution against him in the Williams case was dismissed. His own homicide remains an open and ongoing investigation.
