Five Suspects Arrested and Multiple Stolen Firearms Recovered in Multi-Agency Homicide Investigation into a November 2022 Homicide in Louisiana

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana – Five suspects have been arrested and multiple stolen firearms were recovered in a multi-agency homicide investigation into a November 2022 homicide in Louisiana.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that during the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 21, 2023, a multi-agency operation involving the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Police Department, Louisiana State Police, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Central Louisiana Violent Crimes Abatement Team (VCAT) executed five search and arrest warrants in the Bailey Heights and Fairgrounds Road areas.

As a result, two Natchitoches men and three Natchitoches minors were arrested, and firearms, ammunition, narcotics, and other goods were seized.

The operation focused on those identified as probable persons of interest or suspects in the November 26, 2022 homicide by the shooting of Rodjay J. Stackhouse, 19, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and another individual who suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Natchitoches Police reacted to NATCOM 911 Center reports of “shots fired” in the vicinity of Grace and Berry Avenues in Natchitoches on Saturday evening, November 26, 2022, at approximately 10:39 p.m.

Responding units arrived on the scene to find one person lying on the edge of the road on Berry Avenue with a life-threatening gunshot wound and learned that another victim with a gunshot wound had been transported to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center by private vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries.
Natchitoches Police requested that the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office investigate the incident shortly after securing the crime scene to protect the integrity of the inquiry because one of the victims was linked to NPD staff.

Rodjay Jaheim Stackhouse of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was killed in the shooting. Natchitoches Parish Assistant Coroner Steven Clanton pronounced Stackhouse dead on the scene, and his body was transferred to Shreveport for an autopsy.

A 20-year-old Natchitoches man was treated at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Five NPSO Criminal Investigations Division detectives went to the scene. NPSO Detectives were briefed and learned that the shooters fled the scene.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives reportedly investigated the crime scene, photographing and gathering evidence, and speaking with prospective witnesses and local neighbors. Several empty shell casings were found at the crime scene, according to detectives, but no motive for the shooting has been discovered at this time.

Forensic material was turned over to the Northwest Louisiana Crime Lab for examination. Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington was also consulted by the detectives. As a result, police acquired enough evidence and probable cause to obtain criminal arrest warrants approved by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge against many people who were identified as being at the location during the incident.

Investigators then began planning an operation to identify, apprehend, and execute search warrants at their homes, which were thought to be heavily armed with firearms and ammunition. Early Tuesday morning, March 21, 2023, a team of Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Natchitoches Police, Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force Agents, Louisiana State Police, ATF, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Central Louisiana VCAT began executing the arrest and search warrants concurrently.

NPSO Detectives seized 10 firearms as a result of the search warrants, while 9 were reported stolen in automobiles or home burglaries in Natchitoches City and Parish. An AK-47, semi-automatic high caliber rifles, semi-automatic handguns ranging from 9mm to.40 caliber, shotguns, and US currency were among the weapons seized. Hundreds of rounds of various caliber ammunition were also seized, as well as drum magazines capable of holding more than 50 rounds of ammunition, 34 pounds of suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and suspected methamphetamine.

Three Natchitoches juveniles were arrested, ages 15, 16, and 17, on charges of CDS Schedule I Marijuana Possession with Intent to Distribute and Illegal Carrying and Discharging of a Firearm in Natchitoches.

Carnelius Daniels, 20, of Natchitoches, Louisiana was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Illegal Carrying and Discharging of a Firearm in the City of Natchitoches and Failure to Report a Gunshot Wound.

Larry D. Pye, 47, of Natchitoches, Louisiana transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Felony, Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine-2nd or Subsequent Offense and Contributing to the Delinquency of Juveniles.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Investigators stated that the investigation is active and ongoing and that some facts learned during the inquiry cannot be shared at this time to safeguard the investigation’s integrity.

Sheriff Stuart Wright thanked the public for calling and providing tips to aid in the investigation as we seek to identify all suspects involved in the senseless murder of Rodjay Stackhouse.

Sheriff Wright also commended NPSO Deputies, Natchitoches Police Department, Louisiana State Police, ATF, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Central Louisiana VCAT for apprehending the suspects and taking the firearms from the streets.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information that will help police in this case call the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 318-357-7830 or Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at 318-238-2388.

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