**Trakeyvan Dejay Handy, 26, Identified as Victim in Fatal Lake Charles Seawall Shooting**

Trakeyvan Dejay Handy, 26, Identified as Victim in Fatal Lake Charles Seawall Shooting

In the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025, authorities responded to reports of a shooting at the Lake Charles Event Center Seawall, located on North Lakeshore Drive. When officers arrived shortly before 6 a.m., they discovered 26-year-old Trakeyvan Dejay Handy suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

👤 Victim Identified

Corroborating statements from Lake Charles Police Deputy Chief Kevin Kirkum, the victim was officially identified as Trakeyvan Dejay Handy of Lake Charles. No additional personal or background information about Handy has been released at this time.

🚨 Law Enforcement Response & Investigation

• Homicide Investigation Launched
  Lake Charles police have classified the case as a homicide and secured the area—from behind the amphitheater to the nearby fountain—during evidence collection. 

• Active Evidence Gathering
  Officers are actively collecting physical evidence, reviewing scene footage, and gathering witness accounts in an effort to piece together what led to the shooting.

• Witness Appeal
  Authorities believe multiple witnesses were on-site during the incident. Residents and visitors are urged to come forward with any information, footage, or observations that may aid the investigation. Tips can be submitted via phone or anonymously through the Lake Charles Police Department’s app.Assurance for Public Safety
  Chief Shawn Caldwell emphasized that investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an altercation among a small group, and they have no evidence indicating an ongoing threat to the general public. 

🔍 What’s Next in the Investigation

1. Ballistics & Scene Analysis
   Careful processing of shell casings, bullet trajectory paths, and any physical evidence gathered at the scene.

2. Witness Interviews
   Police are conducting interviews with those at or near the seawall during the early morning hours of the incident.

3. Surveillance Footage Review
   Police are seeking video from nearby business and residential cameras that could show the altercation or the aftermath.

4. Suspect Identification
   Authorities are pursuing leads to identify individuals involved and determine if any arrests are warranted.

💔 Community Impact & Response

• The Lake Charles community has awakened to the sudden loss of a young man in a public, frequented area.

• Local officials and law enforcement are urging calm and cooperation, emphasizing that this does not appear to be a random act of violence.

• Family and friends of Handy are likely in shock and grieving; no memorial or funeral details have been released yet.

📣 How You Can Assist

• If you were present at the event center or seawall early Sunday morning, or if you snapped videos or photos, please contact LCPD at 337‑491‑1311 or submit information through their official app.

• Community cooperation is vital to bringing clarity and resolution more quickly.

📝 Summary Table