UPDATE: Jennings homicide victim was shooter’s cousin

Published 3:59 pm Wednesday, July 5, 2023

A Jennings man fatally shot his cousin after allegedly breaking into an apartment early Wednesday and shooting the victim in front of a woman and a nine-month-old baby.

Police Chief Danny Semmes said Ketron Latralle Alexander, 20, is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on McKinley Street and killing 24-year-old Deontrae Edwards of Jennings.

Alexander, who police later found hiding in the closet of his residence on Winnie Street, is facing charges of second-degree murder, home invasion, domestic abuse with child endangerment and violation of a protective order.

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Semmes said officers were called to the apartment around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday after someone called police to say someone had broken into an apartment and someone had been shot.

Upon arrival, officers found Edwards dead in the living room. He had been shot multiple times, according to Semmes.

“Our officers immediately established a crime scene and began an investigation which included a search warrant being issued for the apartment per our protocol,” Semmes said.

Through an investigation and witness statements, investigators learned Alexander allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on McKinley Street, where he encountered her and the victim, which lead to an altercation and the fatal shooting, Semmes said. A nine-month-old baby was also in the apartment at the time of the shooting and was not injured.

Alexander fled the scene before police arrived, but was later found hiding in the closet of his residence on Winnie Street.

Semmes said Alexander and Edwards were involved in a fight during the Down Home Reunion at Marcus Cain Park on Memorial Day weekend in which Edwards was shot several times in the torso by juvenile.