Taylor Joubert, a Black/African American man from Opelousas, Louisiana, was shot and killed on September 30, 2021, while sitting in the driver’s seat of his car in the Vista Village Shopping Center off Creswell Lane. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle suffered life-threatening gunshot injuries but survived after being taken to a local hospital.

The Opelousas Police Department’s investigation led to multiple arrests. A 17-year-old juvenile was charged in connection with the homicide. In October 2021, 20-year-old Keith Anthony Eli II turned himself in and was charged with one count of second-degree murder for Joubert’s death and one count of attempted second-degree murder for the injured passenger. On November 3, 2021, a St. Landry Parish grand jury indicted Keith Eli II and another man, Braillon Manuel, on second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges.

While awaiting trial, Keith Eli, then 24, escaped from custody in St. Landry Parish along with two other inmates; authorities warned the men should be considered armed and dangerous and a search was launched. Does anyone have information about Joubert, his movements that day, or the escape that could help investigators?