4 more juveniles arrested in slaying of LC artist

Published 6:16 pm Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Four more juveniles have been charged in the Feb. 18 slaying of 43-year-old Lake Charles artist Derrick James Thornton.

A 16-year-old was previously arrested on March 1.

Lake Charles Police detectives said after the 16-year-old’s arrest, four additional suspects were identified and officers were able to obtain juvenile custodial arrest warrants signed by Judge Cynthia Guillory.

All four suspects are charged with one count of first-degree murder and are being held at the Juvenile Detention Center.

Deputy Chief F. Fondel said that at about 4 p.m. Monday, SWAT officers and detectives served a search warrant in the 4300 block Gordon Woods Drive. A 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident.

At about 7 p.m. the same day, SWAT officers and detectives served a search warrant in the 5000 block of Pecan Acres Drive. A 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident.

On Tuesday, two additional suspects were taken into custody, without incident, at LCPD headquarters. A 16-year-old suspect was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. and a 17-year-old suspect was arrested shortly before 2 p.m.

This remains an ongoing investigation, Fondel said.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact lead Dets. Sgt. John Russell or Sgt. Dustin Fontenot by calling 337-491- 1311.