Billy Jamison

A pillar of his Shreveport, Louisiana, community, Billy Jamison was remembered as a kind, compassionate, and godly man who was always ready to help a neighbor. The 67-year-old Black man was a father of four and the sole caregiver for his own father, who was in his 90s. A graduate of Green Oaks High School where he played in the band, Mr. Jamison was a faithful church member and a former pastor at Samuel Baptist Church. Friends and family described him as a role model and an "earth angel." One cousin said, "You would not find a more peaceful, gentle, and supportive person."

That peace was shattered on the morning of Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Mr. Jamison was working as an independent contractor, driving a van to deliver pharmaceuticals. At around 10:20 a.m., as he was making a delivery in the parking lot of the Walgreens at the intersection of Kings Highway and Line Avenue, he was shot and killed during an armed robbery. The assailants were after the prescription drugs in his vehicle and his work van. Mr. Jamison was shot twice in the chest and rushed to Ochsner LSU Health hospital, but he was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m. The brazen daylight attack, which marked the second homicide of the year in Shreveport, sent shockwaves through the city. It was later revealed that Mr. Jamison had been the victim of a similar robbery in October of the previous year, during which prescription drugs were stolen.

The Shreveport Police Department launched an immediate and intensive investigation. Investigators quickly identified two brothers, Kelvin Lewis, 38, and Larry Lewis, 44, as suspects. Police believed the attack was targeted. Within days, Kelvin Lewis was arrested in Arlington, Texas, on unrelated charges, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with Mr. Jamison's death. Shreveport police identified him as the suspected gunman.

A manhunt began for Larry Lewis, who police described as armed and dangerous and who had a lengthy criminal history. He was initially questioned by Shreveport detectives about the murder and released. However, he was arrested again the next day by Shreveport officers and ATF agents on a federal fugitive warrant for an unrelated charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In May 2025, federal authorities announced that a grand jury had indicted both brothers on charges related to the robbery. The case took a significant step forward in August 2025, when a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against both Kevin Terrell Lewis (also known as Kelvin) and Larry Dewayne Lewis. This new indictment added a charge of causing death by using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, which constituted murder. The indictment alleged that the brothers, aiding and abetting each other, robbed Mr. Jamison of prescription drugs and his work van, and that the killing constituted murder. If convicted on this charge, both men face a potential sentence of life in prison.

Mr. Jamison's death was a profound loss for his family and the community he served. His manager at the delivery company set up a GoFundMe account to help his children, and his funeral services were held at the end of January 2025. City officials expressed their condolences and condemned the senseless violence. Council Chairwoman Tabatha Taylor said, "My heart grieves each time there is a loss of life that is senseless."

As of August 2025, both Kelvin and Larry Lewis were in custody and faced federal charges for robbery and murder. The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to assist in the case and believes other individuals may have been involved. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any additional people who played a role in the murder of Billy Jamison. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at (318) 673-7300 or Caddo Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.