Murder trial underway for two brothers accused of Memorial Day 2021 triple murder

BATON ROUGE – The trial of two brothers accused of a triple murder on Memorial Day 2021 began Monday.

Ladarrius Coleman and David Williams were teenagers when they opened fire at a pool party, killing three people, including 18-month-old Ja'Tyri Brown, according to police.

Ja'Tyri's grandmother, Hope Provost, is still mourning her loss and wondering why it all happened.

“What possessed you to come into an apartment complex and open fire when there are so many innocent people there who had nothing to do with what you were doing? I just want to know why?” Provost said.

Her family hopes to get clarity on this issue when the trial begins this week.

“A lot of people say it gets easier with time, but for our family it doesn't get easier. In fact, it gets harder.”

The brothers, now both adults, are on trial together. Their mother, Latoya Coleman, was also arrested on charges of aiding and abetting when she allegedly tried to help her sons escape to Texas.

“Where were you when your child did these things? Where were you?”

Ja'tyri's close-knit family says that while the brothers are on trial, they are not the only ones responsible.

“All I can say is that some of the children were still minors when this happened. So I want to say to anyone who has a young son: If you don't hold on to your child and let him or her grow up on the streets, you will be in the same situation as me and that is not a good feeling.”

The other two victims were 16-year-old Dwayne Dunn and 20-year-old Reginald Thomas.

Jury selection is expected to take two days, with opening arguments beginning Wednesday.