BREAKING: Arrests made in 23-year-old cold case

In January 2022, the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office contacted Lake Charles Police  about opening an investigation into a January 2000 shooting that resulted in a still-unsolved homicide.

On Jan. 1, 2000, at 2:30 a.m., police officers 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 later that day.

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, Det. Sergeant Willie Fontenot and Crime Scene Technician Kristen Howell.

The investigator  initiated a 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 of Douglasville, Ga., and 49-year-old Terrance Lee Malvo of Sulphur.

After obtaining arrest warrants, LCPD investigators, joined by Sgt. George Miller, LCPD’s liaison with the US Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force, made contact with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to alert them of the active arrest warrant.

After traveling to Douglasville, Ga., Kyer was arrested at his residence, without incident on Feb. 1. The US Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted LCPD in apprehending Kyer.

LCPD’s Crime Scene Technician collected additional evidence at Kyer’s residence through the service of a search warrant.

Kyer is charged with one count of Second Degree Murder, Principal. Judge Tony Fazzio set bond at $1 million. Kyer has waived extradition and is in the process of being transferred to the Calcasieu Correctional Center.

Upon their return to the City of Lake Charles, LCPD Investigators, along with LCPD SWAT Officers served the arrest warrant for Malvo on Friday, February 3, 2023. He was taken into custody without incident at 5:15 a.m. at his Sulphur residence. Malvo was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center, where he remains in custody, and is charged with one count of Second Degree Murder. Judge Tony Fazzio set bond at $1 million.

This remains an ongoing investigation and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sgt. Willie Fontenot by calling (337) 491-1311.

 

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