BATON ROUGE — East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s homicide division arrested four people in connection with a shooting that happened Sunday evening that left an 8-year-old child dead.
It was just after 6 p.m. when East Baton Rouge deputies responded to the intersection of San Juan and Santa Barbara drives. That’s near Hooper & Plank roads. Once there, deputies discovered “a large number of rifle cartridge cases” in the roadway near a home on S. Laredo Avenue.
UWK has learned the child, identified as 8-year-old Davian Nicholas, was outside at the time of the shooting playing basketball with his siblings and was somehow shot when he got caught in the crossfire when multiple shots rang out.
During the investigation, EBRSO detectives determined that a group of individuals who were arguing began exchanging gunfire in the area. During that exchange of gunfire, Nicholas was struck. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but did not survive his injuries.
Through an intensive overnight investigation, EBRSO Homicide Detectives, with the assistance of the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office Fugitive Task Force, identified those responsible and took four suspects into custody within hours of the shooting.
Per EBRSO, the following people were arrested:
- Jeremiah Tanan Scott (DOB: 06-22-2004)
- Charged with First Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon
- Investigators believe Scott fired shots that struck the victim.
- Hunter Calligan (DOB: 01-12-2004)
- Charged with Principal to First Degree Murder
- Jeremiah Walter (DOB: 02-08-2001)
- Charged with First Degree Murder
- Everett Chambers (DOB: 08-18-2004)
- Charged with First Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon
- Investigators believe Chambers also fired shots during the incident.
According to arrest warrants, the shooting occurred after arguments between “two separate armed groups” that got more and more heated as the day went on. The groups, one on foot and the other in a vehicle driving by, began shooting at each other on San Juan Drive near South Laredo, responding deputies report.
During interviews with the suspects, detectives learned that in anticipation of a gunfight, Hunter Calligan and Jeremiah Scott armed themselves with an AR-style rifle, rifle and handgun, per a warrant. According to a warrant, Scott was allegedly the only one who discharged his weapon in the direction of where 8-year-old Nicholas was when he was shot.
Jeremiah Walter was identified as the person driving the Dodge Charger when the shooting began, per his warrant. Officials believe Everett Chambers was one of the individuals shooting in the incident, as well.
Sheriff Sid Gautreaux issued the following statement in response to the shooting:
“This is a heartbreaking and senseless tragedy. A group of young men chose to settle an argument with gunfire in a neighborhood where families live and children should be safe. Because of that reckless and violent decision, an innocent 8-year-old child, Davian Nicholas, lost his life.
Our hearts and prayers are with Davian’s family as they face an unimaginable loss. No parent or family should ever have to endure the pain of losing a child in such a senseless act of violence.
I also want to commend our detectives and our law enforcement partners for their relentless work through the night. Because of their quick and dedicated efforts, all four suspects were identified and taken into custody within hours. We are committed to ensuring that those responsible for this tragedy are held fully accountable.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (225) 344-STOP (7867).
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