Fifteen-year-old Jairen ’Jai’ Cole, a native of Thibodaux and resident of Napoleonville, was fatally shot on Saturday, September 10, 2022. Thibodaux police found him inside a home in the 1700 block of South Barbier Avenue with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower torso. He was taken to Thibodaux Regional Health System and later transferred to University Medical Center in New Orleans, where he died from his injuries.

The investigation resulted in three arrests. A 15-year-old male was charged with second-degree murder, and a 12-year-old was charged as a principal to second-degree murder; both juveniles were held at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility. Later that month, 39-year-old Talisha Duncan was arrested and booked on one count of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, with bond set at $150,000. Family and friends held a candlelight vigil to mourn Jairen and call for an end to the violence that took his life.

If anyone knew Jairen or has information about what happened that night, please come forward to assist the ongoing inquiry.