Vicksburg man arrested for alleged murder-for-hire in Louisiana – The Vicksburg Post

A Vicksburg man is one of three people arrested in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot in Louisiana, Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office officials said at a news conference Thursday.

Johnnie Hicks, 25, who was recently released from a Mississippi prison, was taken into custody along with his siblings Rilonda Brooks, 44, and David Brooks Jr., 40., That's what Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi said. One suspect, Javadda Lewis of Edwards, Mississippi, is still at large.

Hicks is charged with second-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated burglary, obstruction of justice and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Both Rilonda and David Brooks are charged with second-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Lewis is wanted for first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated burglary and obstruction of justice.

Stassi said the charges stem from the Aug. 27 murder of a Maringouin, Louisiana, man.

During Thursday's press conference, Stassi said the four suspects planned and carried out the murder of 65-year-old Herman Harris.

Iberville Parish District Attorney Tony Clayton said Harris worked for the Brooks siblings, who received a large sum of money in a lawsuit. Harris was injured on the job, and Clayton said the siblings hired Hicks to kill Harris out of fear Harris would sue them for the injury.

Hicks has a long criminal history, including armed robbery as a juvenile. In July 2014, at age 15, Hicks was arrested for allegedly robbing a woman at gunpoint in the 1300 block of Washington Street in Vicksburg.

In 2020, Hicks was again arrested by Vicksburg police and charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. After a traffic stop, he was found with a .40 caliber pistol and an AR-15 rifle.