Lake Charles, LA –
On May 25, shortly after midnight, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a business at 6780 Highway 90 E. in Lake Charles after receiving multiple calls in reference to a shooting that occurred. Upon arrival deputies learned there was a graduation party taking place at the business with approximately 200 unsupervised teenagers in attendance. Deputies located several victims at the scene with injuries and learned several victims had already been taken to the hospital.
During the initial investigation and after speaking with numerous witnesses detectives learned Devin L. Levier, 17, 1236 S. Railroad Avenue, Lake Charles, one of the individuals who had already been taken to the hospital, was responsible for the shooting. When deputies arrived at the hospital they made contact with Mary M. Brignac, 23, 2004 5th Street, Lake Charles, and learned she had brought Levier to the hospital. Upon searching the car Brignac was in possession of, deputies located a semi-automatic pistol, which had been previously reported stolen through the Lake Charles Police Department. Brignac was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Brignac was charged with possession of a stolen firearm; she was released later the same day on a $7,000 bond set by Judge Sharon Wilson.
On May 27, after Leviers release from the hospital, he was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with illegal use of a weapon; illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile; aggravated 2nd degree battery; and aggravated assault with a firearm. He was released later the same day on a $70,000 bond set by Judge Sharon Wilson.
After further investigation detectives learned gunfire erupted outside the business after the initial gunfire inside. After reviewing surveillance cameras in the area of the incident detectives observed a car travelling westbound on Highway 90 when a flash from a muzzle was seen coming from inside the car as it drove past the business while a group of people were standing outside. Detectives were able to identify the car and on May 30, a search warrant was executed on the car. Detectives learned Abram I. Landry, 19, 6735 Highway 90 E, Lot # 58, Lake Charles, was the driver of the car during the time of the shooting and during a subsequent search warrant on his residence detectives recovered a semi-automatic assault rifle with a 30 round magazine and a semi-automatic pistol.
Landry was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with assault by drive-by shooting; and illegal use of a weapon while committing a crime of violence. Judge Sharon Wilson set his bond at $75,000. It was also learned Landry had an active warrant in the amount of $101,500 for domestic abuse aggravated assault; illegal use of a weapon; aggravated criminal damage to property; aggravated assault with a firearm; and simple battery.
The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
CPSO Detective Michelle Robinson is the lead investigator on this case.