Lake Charles, Louisiana - Lake Charles police have arrested two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting that left one man dead and another injured on October 3, 2025.
Officers responded to the 800 block of 3rd Avenue at approximately 10:50 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered 24-year-old Derrick Bertrand Jr. lying in a parking lot in the 1700 block of Broad Street with a gunshot wound. Bertrand was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators also determined that 36-year-old Justin Lainta had been shot during the same incident. Lainta was taken to a local hospital and survived his injuries.
The investigation, led by Detective Sergeant Kevin Hoover, revealed that Bertrand had attempted to rob Lainta at gunpoint while in the Broad Street parking lot. During the attempted robbery, a physical struggle ensued between the two men.
According to police, 18-year-old Elijah Williams, who was accompanying Bertrand, drew a weapon and fired multiple shots. The gunfire struck both Bertrand and Lainta. Williams then fled the scene in a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Timothy D. Linan.
Lake Charles police arrested Linan on October 8. He faces charges of failure to report the commission of certain felonies and accessory after the fact. His bond was set at $850,000.
On October 13, authorities arrested Williams and charged him with attempted armed robbery and second-degree murder. His bond is set at $1,750,000.
The investigation remains ongoing. The Lake Charles Police Department is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the department directly or submit an anonymous tip through the Lake Charles PD app.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.