Five arrested in shooting that killed 19-year-old Damon Summerlin

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Summary: Damon Joshua Summerlin, 19, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, was shot and killed on February 7, 2026, in Lutcher. A 17-year-old friend from the same area was also wounded in the incident. On March 30, authorities arrested 17-year-old Juancheus Washington of Lutcher and four 15-year-old boys from St. James Parish in connection with the shooting, reports say.

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Nineteen-year-old Damon Joshua Summerlin from Denham Springs never made it home one night last February. What started as an ordinary evening turned deadly in a matter of minutes, and now five teenagers are behind bars facing serious charges.

Here’s what happened.

Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, Damon and a 17-year-old friend from the same Denham Springs area were in a residential spot in Lutcher when gunfire erupted. Investigators say it wasn’t some random drive-by—it felt targeted, almost like a setup. The 17-year-old jumped behind the wheel, trying to rush them both to the hospital. He missed a turn and pulled into the parking lot of Regions Bank instead. That’s where one of them called 911. Deputies arrived to find both teens shot multiple times. They were rushed to the hospital. Damon fought hard, but he died the next day from his injuries. His friend survived with wounds that weren’t life-threatening.

For weeks the sheriff’s office worked the case quietly. Then, on March 30, they made their move. They arrested 17-year-old Juancheus Washington of the Lutcher area and four 15-year-old boys from St. James Parish. Washington and three of the 15-year-olds now face first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges. The fourth teen is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The investigation is still active, but these arrests mark a major step forward.

St. James Parish Sheriff Claude Louis Jr. put it plainly when he described the scene that night: “It was almost like a set-up.”

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