On April 25, 2025, the St. Landry Parish Grand Jury indicted 19-year-old Marques Malik Sonnier and a 16-year-old juvenile for the second-degree murder of Kendrick Pickney. All parties were from Opelousas. The Honey Lane shooting was reported just after 9:30pm on the evening of December 28, 2024. Mr. Lamar succumb to his injuries that night at Opelousas General Hospital. A conviction of second-degree murder by an adult carries a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment at hard labor, without probation, parole of suspension of sentence. Louisiana law provides that the juvenile in this case also faces life imprisonment if convicted of second-degree murder, but may be eligible for parole consideration after serving 25 years. Arraignment for Sonnier is May 22nd and for the juvenile, May 15th.
Jakob Sedrick Oakley, 22, of Opelousas was indicted for first-degree rape and aggravated second-degree battery of a Lafayette woman. The victim was found on McClelland Road in the Lawtell area on October 2, 2024, and was brought to a local hospital and treated for her injuries. Aggravated second-degree battery carries up to fifteen years at hard labor, while first-degree rape, like first and second-degree murder, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment at hard labor, without probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Oakley will be arraigned on May 15th.
By:
Chad P. Pitre
St. Landry Parish District Attorney
