Man arrested on second degree murder charge in St. Martinville - KATC.com | Continuous News Coverage | Acadiana-Lafayette

UPDATE: The family of a weekend shooting victim is asking for help to pay for his funeral. 

Dametri Joseph Romero's family does not have the means to bury him, a family member said. A GoFundMe account has been set up, you can help by clicking here. You also can help by sending donations directly to Fletcher Funeral Home, he said. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested a man in connection with a shooting death on Aubrey Ozenne Road in St. Martinville over the weekend. 

On Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 4:50 p.m. a call was received in reference to a suspicious vehicle parked on the property of an oilfield business and hunting lease on the 1000 block of Aubrey Ozenne Road.  Witnesses told police that they saw a black male suspect holding a firearm and sitting next to a white male subject who appeared to be injured. The vehicle was described as an older model maroon vehicle. 

When deputies arrived on the scene, the vehicle was no longer in the area and a search for the vehicle was started. At 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 22, 2017, deputies say were notified of a traffic stop conducted on the suspect vehicle at the intersection of W. Madison and Lewis Street in St. Martinville. 

The suspect in the vehicle, 30-year-old DeAnthony Francois of St. Martinville, was taken into custody for questioning in reference to the Saturday shooting. 

Deputies learned, after questioning Francois, that following an altercation in the vehicle, Francois allegedly shot 19-year-old Dametri Joseph Romero of New Iberia. After the shooting, Francois allegedly left the area to find a place to dump Romero's body. Officers say that Francois was actually locked inside of the business and hunting lease on Aubrey Ozenne Road after a worker locked one of the gates to the property. 

Shortly after, another individual arrived at the scene and opened one of the locked gates. Francois then left the scene. The vehicle was then driven to Francois Road where the body was allegedly dumped. The body was discovered there at 10:00 p.m. Sunday by St. Martin Deputies. 

DeAnthony Francois was arrested and charged as follows:                   

•  Second Degree Murder

 Following his arrest, he was booked into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center on the above-charges and at the time of this release, no bond had been set.