Ronald Landry

Ronald Landry, a 55-year-old White man from Boyce, Louisiana, was described by his family as dearly loved. According to public records, he had no felony history, which made the violent circumstances of his death particularly distressing for his community. In the wake of the tragedy, his family shared that he did not have life insurance and sought support for his final expenses.

On the evening of Wednesday, June 19, 2024, police in Alexandria responded to a call about a shooting around 10:53 p.m. At a residence in the 2000 block of Simmons Street, officers discovered Landry and another man, 38-year-old Jeremy Swafford of Alexandria. Both men had died from gunshot wounds. Investigators have not publicly stated what led the two victims to the home that night.

The police investigation moved quickly. The following night, on June 20, officers with the Alexandria Police Department arrested 46-year-old Rentis Austin of Alexandria in connection with the double homicide. Authorities did not release a possible motive for the killings. Austin had a history with the criminal justice system, having been booked into the parish jail multiple times in the preceding years on charges including armed robbery and auto theft.

Austin was initially charged with two counts of second-degree murder, as well as probation and parole violations. A judge set his bail at $2 million. The case against him moved forward on August 27, 2024, when a Rapides Parish grand jury formally indicted him on two counts of second-degree murder.

Following the indictment, the case is proceeding through the court system. Under Louisiana law, a conviction for second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison at hard labor without the possibility of parole. The case was pending trial as of August 2024.