Suspect Marvin Dandre Kyer. Credit: LCPD
In January 2022, the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office (CPDAO) contacted the Lake Charles Police Department (LCPD) in reference to opening an investigation into a January 2000 shooting that resulted in a still unsolved homicide.
On Jan. 1, 2000, at 2:30 a.m., officers with the Lake Charles Police Department (Louisiana) were dispatched to the 2500 block of Mill Street in reference to a shooting on the premises of The Doll House.
Officers arrived on scene and observed three victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Twenty-four-year-old LaShonda Harmon, 24-year-old Shonda Woods and 27-year-old Allen Babineaux were all identified as victims and transported to local hospitals for treatment. Babineaux succumbed to his injuries at 3:45 a.m.
The investigation into the incident was turned over to the Violent Crimes Task Force, created in 1994 to investigate violent crime in Calcasieu Parish. The Task Force was comprised of investigators from a number of local law enforcement agencies within the Parish and was slowly phased out in May 2000. Any open cases were transferred back to the agency with jurisdiction where the incident occurred.
In response to the CPDAO’s request, an investigative team was formed under the direction of LCPD’s Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel, who oversees the Department’s Investigations Bureau. In addition to Fondel, other team members included Major Kevin Kirkum, Detective Sergeant Willie Fontenot and Crime Scene Technician Kristen Howell.
The investigators initiated a brand new inquiry into the January 2000 shooting, reviewing all existing case files and evidence. They also revisited the crime scene, completing a complete reconstruction of the incident.
With the crime scene reconstruction completed, investigators reviewed all evidence with the Southwest Louisiana Crime Laboratory and the Calcasieu Parish Coroner's Office. This collaborative effort resulted in evidence being submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory for additional forensic testing.
Through the course of a lengthy investigation, and as result of forensic technology and witness statements, investigators were able to identify two suspects. On Jan. 17, 2023, investigators secured arrest warrants for 46-year-old Marvin Dandre Kyer and 49-year-old Terrance Lee Malvo.
Kyer was arrested at his residence, without incident, on Feb. 1, 2023. LCPD’s Crime Scene Technician collected additional evidence at Kyer’s residence. On Feb. 3, Malvo was taken into custody without.
This remains an ongoing investigation.
Republished courtesy of Lake Charles Police Department.