Lake Charles, Louisiana - Lake Charles police say three suspects are in custody in connection with an armed robbery that escalated into a shooting on December 15, 2025, in the 100 block of Lucile Street.
According to the Lake Charles Police Department (LCPD), officers responded to the scene that day for a report of a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they provided medical aid to the victim and secured the area so detectives could begin their investigation.
During an interview with the victim, detectives determined the shooting stemmed from an armed robbery. What started as a robbery, investigators say, developed into a more serious violent crime when the victim was shot.
A follow-up investigation led detectives to identify three suspects:
- Braylon Zachary, 20
- Two juveniles, both 16 years old
Police did not release the names of the juveniles, which is standard practice in many juvenile cases.
First Juvenile Arrested On Armed Robbery Charges
On December 18, 2025, investigators took one of the 16-year-old suspects into custody without incident. He was booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on the following charges under Louisiana law:
- LA RS 14:64 – Armed Robbery
- This statute applies when someone takes something of value from another person by force or intimidation, while armed with a dangerous weapon.
- LA RS 14:64.3 – Armed Robbery; Use of a Firearm
- This law adds penalties when a firearm is used during an armed robbery, increasing potential prison time.
LCPD did not release further details about the juvenile’s alleged role in the incident.
Second Juvenile Charged In Connection With Shooting
A second 16-year-old suspect was arrested weeks later. On January 6, 2026, Lake Charles police say LCPD SWAT officers, working with the U.S. Marshals Task Force and the Lafayette Police Department, took the juvenile into custody at a residence in Lafayette, Louisiana. Officials report the arrest was made without incident.
The juvenile was transported back to Lake Charles and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on multiple charges:
- LA RS 14:64 – Armed Robbery
- LA RS 14:64.3 – Armed Robbery; Use of a Firearm
- LA RS 14:24 / 14:30 – Principal to Attempted First Degree Murder
- Under Louisiana law, a “principal” is someone who aids, abets, or otherwise participates in a crime.
- LA RS 14:95.8(B)(4) – Illegal Possession Of A Handgun By A Juvenile
- This law makes it a crime for most juveniles to possess a handgun, with narrow exceptions that generally do not apply in criminal incidents.
Adult Suspect Arrested In Opelousas
On that same day, January 6, 2026, authorities also arrested the adult suspect, 20-year-old Braylon Zachary.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force located Zachary at a residence in Opelousas, Louisiana. LCPD reports he was taken into custody without incident. After his arrest, the Lake Charles Police Department SWAT Team transported him to Lake Charles, where he was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center.
Zachary faces the following charges:
- LA RS 14:64 – Armed Robbery
- LA RS 14:64.3 – Armed Robbery; Use of a Firearm
- LA RS 14:30 – Attempted First Degree Murder
- Attempted first-degree murder generally applies when someone is accused of trying to kill another person under circumstances defined by state law as especially serious, such as during certain felonies.
- LA RS 14:92(A)(11)(a) – Contributing To The Delinquency Of A Juvenile
- This statute targets adults who allegedly encourage, assist, or cause juveniles to engage in criminal behavior.
Multi-Agency Effort Spans Multiple Louisiana Cities
The investigation and arrests reached beyond Lake Charles, involving cooperation among several local and federal agencies and multiple Louisiana cities:
- Lake Charles Police Department (LCPD) – Lead agency handling the shooting and robbery investigation.
- U.S. Marshals Task Force – Assisted in locating and apprehending suspects in both Lafayette and Opelousas.
- Lafayette Police Department – Assisted with the arrest of the second juvenile in Lafayette.
- LCPD SWAT Team – Helped take the second juvenile into custody and transported Zachary from Opelousas to Lake Charles.
Charges Pending; Investigation Ongoing
All three suspects remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. No trial dates or court proceedings were included in the information provided.
The lead investigator on the case is Detective Duplechan with the Lake Charles Police Department. Authorities have not released additional details about the victim’s condition or the events immediately before the incident, beyond stating that the shooting followed an armed robbery.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.