On the evening of June 19, 2023, two young men were killed in a shooting in the 100 block of South Orleans Drive in Lafayette, Louisiana. Officers were called about an active shooting around 9:46 p.m. and found two people with gunshot wounds. Twenty-one-year-old Denzel Smith, born January 30, 2002, was pronounced dead at the scene; 22-year-old Codie Laday was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died there. Smith is described as a devoted father.

Investigators identified and arrested two suspects in West Baton Rouge Parish. Twenty-one-year-old Zaylin Sion of Lafayette was booked on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of illegal discharge of a firearm. Eighteen-year-old Alayna Moreau of Church Point was booked on two counts of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Authorities say the shooting followed an argument that escalated into deadly violence and the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has information about what happened that night or knew Denzel, please share what you know.