Man convicted of killing toddler, two others sentenced to life in Memorial Day 2021 shooting

BATON ROUGE — Ladarius Coleman was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after killing three people in a shooting on Memorial Day in 2021. However, since he was 15 years old at the time of the crime, he has the possibility of parole after serving 25 years.

The families of the three victims said they were relieved that justice was served, but that the sentence was not enough.

The shooting killed 1-year-old Ja’Tyri Brown. Hope Provost, her grandmother, said the verdict will never ease the pain of losing her loved ones.

“It’s just a signpost for us to achieve some kind of healing, but this hole in our hearts will never be filled,” Provost said.

Coleman, now 18, and his brother David Williams also took the lives of Dewayne Dunn Jr. and REginald Thomas Jr.

Dunn’s mother, Shameka Murray, said the conviction will never fill the void left by the loss of her only son.

“I live with a broken heart and ask my son to give me the strength to live with a broken heart,” Murray said.

District Attorney Hillar Moore said it was a terrible crime, but because Coleman was 15 at the time of the crime, According to the law, after 25 years in prison he can be sentenced to life and paroled.

“I’m sure 25 years isn’t significant enough, but it is the law and that is the law we will follow. What hurt me was that he just didn’t take responsibility and really didn’t give the family peace,” Moore said.

Provost and Murray said they are doing their best to move on and overcome the loss of their loved ones. PRovost said she opened a snoball stand called Ja’Tyri’s Snacks and Snoballs on Fairfields Avenue in honor of Ja’Tyri’s legacy.

“Your name will never die. she is an angel. She will always be an angel. She will always have a place in my heart. She was my world,” Provost said.

David Williams’ trial is scheduled for March.