Two arrests have been made in the 23-year-old cold case death of Allen Babineaux.

More than two decades ago on New Year’s Day, officers with the Lake Charles Police Department responded to a shooting at about 2:30 a.m. at The Doll House.

There, they found that three victims — LaShonda Harmon, 24, Shonda Woods, 24, and Babineaux, 27 — suffering from gunshot wounds. All three were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Nearly an hour later, Babineaux succumbed to his injuries.

LCPD Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel was one of the first officers on the scene.

“I was a patrol officer here … and happened to arrive on scene that night. I did the initial report of how chaotic the scene was.”

Fondel said the shooting was a result of multiple altercations that took place inside The Doll House. Fondel said the fights escalated to a larger confrontation in the parking lot, where shots were fired into the crowd.

In 2000, the investigation was turned over to the Violent Crimes Task Force, which was phased out in May 2000. After being phased out, all cases — including the Babineaux case — were transferred back to the agency with jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

In January of 2022, the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office contacted LCPD in hopes of reopening the case. Fondel said reopening the case stemmed from the Babineaux family’s consistent efforts for closure.

In response, an investigative team was formed composed of Fondel, Major Kevin Kirkum, Det. Sergeant Willie Fontenot and Crime Scene Technician Kristen Howell.

After reopening the case, the team independently reviewed all existing case files and evidence. Additionally, they revisited the crime scene to reconstruct and reexamine the incident.

Fondel said the investigation has been a wide-spanning collaborative effort. After their independent reviews, all compiled evidence was examined alongside the Southwest Louisiana Crime Laboratory and the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office, before being submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory for additional forensic testing. This process took about one year.

On Jan 17, arrest warrants for Marvin Dandre Kyer of Douglassville, Ga., 46, and Terrance Lee Malvo of Sulphur, 49, were secured.

LCPD investigators and Sgt. George Miller, LCPD liaison with the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force, contacted the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to inform them of the active arrest warrant.

The arrests took place at the beginning of this month. On Feb. 1, LCPD investigators, Sgt. Miller, the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Kyer in Douglassville.

Additional evidence was collected at Kyer’s residence via a search warrant.

Kyer has been charged with one count of  principal to second-degree murder. He is in the process of being transferred to the Calcasieu Correctional Center, and has waived extradition.

Days later, on Feb. 3 LCPD Investigators and LCPD SWAT officers served Malvo the arrest warrant. He was taken in custody without incident

Malvo was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center, and is charged with one count of second-degree murder.

Judge Tony Fazzio set the bond for both Kyer and Malvo at $1 million.

Progress in this case has been a long time coming for the community. “Twenty-three years ago, Chief Dixon assured this community that there would be an arrest made in this case,” said District Attorney Stephen Dwight.

He said the arrests would not have been possible without “true team effort.”

“I commend everybody that has been a part of that… the time and energy they put into this was really phenomenal.”

Fondel said he is grateful for the chance to close this case, especially for the sake of the family of Babieaux. “Having this opportunity… I’m just glad I could be a part of this investigation … the Babineaux family was struck real hard.”

Fondel, along with LCPD Chief Shawn Caldwell and investigators, had the opportunity to meet with the Babineaux family. “When we were able to give them the notification of the arres t… that was moving,” said Dwight.

“This is just the beginning of closure for the Babineaux family,” Fondel said. “For 23 years, this family has been waiting for closure, waiting for healing.”

Dwight said the next step is for the DA’s office to receive the case from LCPD. The case will be brought to the grand jury next week, he said.

LCPD said the case remains an ongoing investigation, and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Fontenot at 337-491-1311.