Two-year mystery finally explodes: Three suspects arrested in shocking 2023 Louisiana shooting case
Three Suspects Indicted Nearly Three Years After Louisiana Drive-By Ho-micide as Investigators Announce Major Breakthrough
After more than two years of investigation, authorities say they have made a major breakthrough in the fatal drive-by sh00ting that claimed the life of Craig Haynes Jr. in Gonzales, Louisiana.
A grand jury has now indicted three suspects in connection with the December 2023 homicide, with all three now in custody following arrests carried out across multiple states.
Fatal Shooting Ended With Crash Into Convenience Store
According to investigators, Craig Haynes Jr. was driving north on Burnside Highway on the night of December 8, 2023, when his black Chevrolet Malibu came under gunfire.
Police said the vehicle was struck multiple times before crashing into the parking lot of the Big River Store.
Haynes suffered critical injuries and d!ed the following day.
For more than two years, detectives continued pursuing leads as they worked to identify those responsible.
Grand Jury Returns Multiple Indictments
On June 22, 2026, a grand jury returned indictments against three men:
Jalon Brown, 22, of Gonzales
Krynicki Baker, 23, of Phoenix, Arizona
Bradly Walker, 21, of St. Helena Parish
Judge John Smith signed arrest warrants the following day, launching a coordinated effort involving local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Arrests Carried Out Across Multiple States
Brown was arrested in Gonzales on June 23 and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.
Baker was located and arrested by the Phoenix Police Department on June 24 and is awaiting extradition back to Louisiana.
Walker was taken into custody in Livingston Parish on June 26 with assistance from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police before also being transferred to the Ascension Parish Jail.
Brown faces charges including principal to second-degree m*rder, while Baker and Walker have each been charged with second-degree m*rder, assault by drive-by sh00ting, and aggravated damage to property.
Police Call Arrests a Major Milestone
Gonzales Police Chief Sherman Jackson praised the work of investigators, saying the indictments were the result of countless hours of investigative effort and close cooperation between numerous law enforcement agencies.
He added that while the arrests mark a significant step forward, investigators continue to keep Craig Haynes Jr.’s family at the center of the case after their long wait for answers.
Authorities also credited the United States Marshals Service, Phoenix Police Department, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, and members of the Gonzales Police Department for helping locate and arrest the three suspects.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare to move the case through the Louisiana court system.
Source:
WAFB News
