Family, friends of homicide victims meet with officials in Abbeville

Abbeville City Councilman Wayne Landry organized a town hall meeting weeks ago to discuss the open homicide cases in both Abbeville and Vermilion Parish, not knowing exactly what would come of it.
Four of the cases occurred in Landry’s District D.
Landry told those in attendance at the meeting, held Wednesday evening at the Abbeville library, that he felt compelled to bring family and friends of the homicide victims together with law enforcement and other officials.
In attendance were Vermilion Parish Sheriff Michael Couvillon, Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy, Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza and members of the city council, among others.
“I felt I needed to organize this to bridge the gap and allow people to ask questions,” Landry said. “I don’t know if they are going to get the answers they are looking for, but we need to come together.”
Two families did indeed receive positive news regarding cases that affect them.
“Today I come with a little bit of good news,” Abbeville Police Department Lt. David Hardy said while speaking during the meeting. “An indictment was brought down on Derrick Mitchell for 1st Degree Murder, aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of stolen things.
“He is being charged in the murder of Darrell Broussard Jr.”
Hardy’s last words led to one of the meeting’s most emotional moments, Broussard’s cousin, Barbara Joseph, tearfully hugging her grandson, Kaylon Rudd. Joseph attended the meeting to represent Broussard’s mother, Mary Louise Briggs, who could not make the meeting because of an illness.
Broussard was killed in Abbeville on Dec. 20, 2012.
“We did not expect to hear that news,” Joseph said of Mitchell’s indictment. “Not today of all days. I just came here to support our family and all these other families.”
Joseph left the room shortly after David Hardy made the announcement.
“I called Darrell’s mother,” Joseph said.
She returned for the remainder of the meeting.
“I am so, so relieved,” Joseph said afterward. “It lifted so much pressure off my heart.”
That relief is tempered because Joseph has a cousin, Whitney Allen Jr., who was shot and killed on May 11, 2013, near Erath. That case remains open.
“It still hurts for Whitney,” Joseph said, “but finding out that (Mitchell) is indicted, it helps. At least we know now.”
The family of Jacolby Andrews, who was shot and killed this past May 26, now knows of similar news after Wednesday’s meeting. David Hardy also announced that Donathan Comeaux has been indicted on manslaughter in connection to Andrews’ death.
Monica Perry, Andrew’s mother, attended Wednesday’s meeting and asked several questions, including the process of the investigation into her son’s death.
“I am going to keep asking questions until I get justice,” Perry said. “I am going to keep coming to these meetings as along as they have them and keep asking questions.”
Perry and others may receive more opportunities similar to Wednesday. Pleased with the meeting’s outcome, Landry said the possibility exists to hold more in the future.
“I think we accomplished a lot tonight,” Landry told the audience. “I thank you all for attending this. We may have one of these every three months. I think it’s needed.
“I think it is the only way we are going to come together.”
David Hardy said he is willing to attend and answer questions and understands the emotion behind the questions. His brother, John “Dooley” Hardy, an officer with the Abbeville Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 24, 1992.
“We have a job to do but I can feel what the people here feel,” Hardy said. “My family has been on the other side of it.
“We are all human.”
Joseph said she will also attend any future meetings. She said her hope for the future is a need not to have such meetings.
“I am praying that all of these cases are solved,” Joseph said. “I hope that the same thing can happen for others that happened for us tonight.
“It is pitiful, though, that they keep having these murders and this violence needs to stop.”