(Natchitoches)-Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the May 26 shooting death of Darnell Jermaine Browder of Campti according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
On Friday June 3 at approximately 6:33pm, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Darrion Lamar Simmons, 20, of the 200 block of Pasture Road, Campti, La., at his residence without resistance.
Simmons was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 2nd Degree Murder and Felony Theft over $1500.00.
Sheriff Wright said the arrest stems from an active ongoing investigation involving the collection of evidence, execution of search warrants, recovery of 4 stolen all terrain vehicles , autopsy findings and interviews of several sources which led to sufficient evidence and probable cause to obtain criminal arrest warrants signed by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge for the arrest of Simmons.
Detectives say the investigation is still ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.
Additional arrests are possible.
The homicide investigation began on Thursday morning, May 26, 2022, at approximately 10:30am, when NATCOM 911 Center received reports of a male laying at the end of Roberson Street near the St. Paul Methodist Church in Campti, La.
Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded to the scene.
Paramedics arrived on scene, discovering an unresponsive deceased male.
NPSO Deputies arrived on scene requesting assistance from the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office.
Sheriff Stuart Wright, Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington, NPSO Detectives, Campti Police, Agents with the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
Detectives say Darnell Jermaine Browder, 39, of the 200 block of Juzan Street, Campti, La. was identified and pronounced dead at the scene by Natchitoches Parish Asst. Coroner Steven Clanton.
Clanton stated Browder died hours earlier as a result of gunshot wounds. The death was ruled as a homicide.
Detectives spent most of the day, processing and photographing the crime scene for evidence and canvassing the area speaking to residents asking for any information or if they observed any suspicious activity during the early morning hours.
The body was sent to Shreveport for an autopsy.
The following day, sheriff’s detectives traveled to Shreveport to attend the autopsy.
Simmons remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center with bond set by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge over $1 million dollars.
Multiple detectives were involved in the investigation assisted by the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau.
If you have any information regarding the homicide of Mr. Browder contact the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 357-7830 or NPSO Homicide Case Agent Detective Sgt. Derrick Sowell at 357-7830 or the Stolen Property Case Agent Det. Captain D. Winder.
We extend our sympathy to the Browder family.
