Second Arrest in Veronique Allen Homicide

Christian Myers was recently extradited from Scarborough, Maine to Bogalusa. He was arrested by Bogalusa Detectives on November 8, 2022 for his participation in the August 23, 2022 murder of Veronique Allen. Click here for previous related stories

As the investigation continued, Detectives identified the second suspect in the murder as Aquandre Spencer, 23 years old and of Houston, Texas. Arrest warrants were obtained for Spencer for First Degree Murder, Assault by Drive by Shooting, and Illegal Use of Weapons. Spencer was believed to be in Texas, so Detectives contacted the U.S. Marshall’s Service for assistance in locating him. On Thursday morning, November 17, 2022, the Marshalls located and apprehended Spencer in Houston. Spencer has additional felony charges pending in Texas, so an extradition date has not yet been set. As soon as possible, Spencer will be brought back to Bogalusa.

It is now believed that Myers and Spencer were the only two subjects in the car at the time of the drive by shooting on Main Street that took Allen’s life. The investigation will continue to determine if anyone else assisted the two suspects in any way, in the planning and execution of the crime.

The Bogalusa Police Department commends the U.S. Marshall’s Service for their quick work in locating and apprehending Spencer, as well as BPD Detectives for their tireless efforts to solve this case.

Mayor Wendy Perrette wishes to send her condolences to the Allen family, and let them know that her thoughts are with them as the holiday season approaches. Mayor Perrette also sends her thanks to the Detectives who worked the case, and hopes that the arrests of these two suspects brings some sense of comfort and justice to the Allen family.

Bogalusa Man Convicted of 2022 Murder In Drive-by Shooting Faces Life Sentence

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on June 25, 2025, a Washington Parish jury deliberated for
an hour before returning a guilty verdict against 25-year-old Christian Cartez Myers of Bogalusa on charges of second degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting and illegal use of weapons. Assistant District Attorneys Le’Anne Malnar and Christina Fisher prosecuted the case. Judge William H. Burris presided over the three-day trial. Detective Justin Blackwell headed the investigation for the Bogalusa Police Department.

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Testimony during the trial established that around noon on August 23, 2022, officers with the Bogalusa Police Department responded to a residence on Main Street after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon entering the residence, officers found 50-year-old Veronique Allen slouched in a chair in the living room. Medical personnel summoned to the scene determined Allen had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to her head. Family members present at the residence were understandably in a state of hysteria when officers first arrived. After calming them down, officers were able to gather information about what had occurred. Witnesses described a normal family gathering interrupted by a burst of gunfire from outside the residence. Several bullets penetrated the residence, one of which struck Allen. Officers checked the area outside the residence and found over twenty .223 caliber spent cartridges scattered near the street.

After securing video surveillance footage from a nearby residence and church, detectives were able to ascertain the license plate number of a vehicle observed circling the residence several times during the shooting. The license plate number was disseminated to law enforcement agencies across the state and later that afternoon, the Lafayette Police Department located the vehicle on one of its streets. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, the occupants ditched the vehicle and fled on foot. A firearm was recovered from the front seat of the vehicle. A convenience store surveillance camera recorded one of the occupants running away. The video was later shown to relatives of Allen to determine if they could recognize the subject. They all identified him as Christian Myers.

An arrest warrant was issued for Myers. Detectives attempted to locate Myers and developed information he had fled to New York or Maine. Several months later, Myers was arrested by officers with the Scarborough Police Department in Maine and extradited back to Washington Parish. When questioned by detectives, he admitted to being the driver of the vehicle during the drive-by shooting. Myers said he had a “beef” with a man who turned out to be a relative of the deceased victim. Armed with weapons, Myers and several other males rode around Bogalusa looking for their intended target. They eventually ended up at the residence on Main Street. With Myers at the wheel of the vehicle, one of the other occupants riddled the residence with a barrage of gunfire. Myers said they then drove to Lafayette.

In closing arguments to the jury at the conclusion of the trial, ADA Christina Fisher urged the jury to find Myers guilty on all charges. Fisher said, “You cannot have a drive-by shooting without a driver. This murder would not have taken place without Christian Myers.” Defense counsel implored the jury to acquit Myers of the murder charge, saying a life sentence would be too harsh a penalty and that a conviction on the less serious charges would be sufficient punishment for Myers. In response, prosecutor Le’Anne Malnar told the jury, “Justice can only be served by a life sentence. A life sentence is being served by Veronique’s children and grandchildren because she isn’t here due to the defendant’s actions.”

Judge Burris set sentencing for Myers on July 21, 2025. Myers faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison on the second degree murder charge. He faces up to five years in prison on the drive-by shooting charge and up to two years in prison on the illegal use of weapons charge.

Bogalusa Man Gets Life Sentence In Drive-by Shooting Murder

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on July 21, 2025, Judge William H. Burris sentenced 25-year-
old Christian Cartez Myers of Bogalusa to life in prison for the 2022 second degree murder of 50-year-old Veronique Allen. In June, a Washington Parish jury deliberated for one hour before returning a guilty verdict against Myers for second degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting and illegal use of weapons. In addition to the life sentence, Judge Burris sentenced Myers to ten years in prison on the assault by drive-by shooting charge and two years in prison on the illegal discharge of weapons charge. The court ordered all sentences to run concurrent with each other. Assistant District Attorneys Le’Anne Malnar and Christina Fisher prosecuted the case. Detective Justin Blackwell headed the investigation for the Bogalusa Police Department.

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Testimony during the trial established that around noon on August 23, 2022, officers with the Bogalusa Police Department responded to a residence on Main Street after receiving reports of a shooting.  Upon entering the residence, officers found 50-year-old Veronique Allen had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to her head.  Witnesses present at the residence described a normal family gathering interrupted by a burst of gunfire from outside the residence.  Several bullets penetrated the residence, one striking Allen.

After securing video surveillance footage from a nearby residence and church, detectives were able to ascertain the license plate number of a vehicle observed circling the residence several times during the shooting. The license plate number was disseminated to law enforcement agencies across the state and later that afternoon, the Lafayette Police Department located the vehicle on one of its streets.  When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed.  During the pursuit, the occupants ditched the vehicle and fled on foot.  A convenience store surveillance camera recorded one of the occupants running away.  The video was later shown to relatives of Allen to determine if they could recognize the subject.  They all identified him as Christian Myers.

An arrest warrant was issued for Myers.  Several months later, Myers was arrested in Maine and extradited back to Washington Parish.  When questioned by detectives, he admitted to being the driver of the vehicle during the drive-by shooting.  Myers said he had a “beef” with a man who turned out to be a relative of the deceased victim.  Armed with weapons, Myers and several other males rode around Bogalusa looking for their intended target.  They eventually ended up at the residence on Main Street.  Myers said they riddled the residence with a barrage of gunfire and then fled.

During the sentencing, several relatives of the deceased victim made statements to the court and to the defendant.  They lamented how the deceased victim had welcomed the defendant into her home when he was a child.  They said their family lives in fear and that the victim’s residence is no longer a place for happy family gatherings.

Arrest Made in Bogalusa Murder of Veronique Allen

The Bogalusa Police Department reports that Christian Myers, age 22 and a resident of Houston, Texas, is in custody as a Fugitive from Bogalusa for the murder of Veronica Allen on August 23, 2022. 

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Early in the murder investigation, BPD say they identified Christian Myers as one of the suspects. Detectives obtained warrants for his arrest for Principal to First Degree Murder, Principal to Assault by Drive by Shooting, and Principal to Illegal Use of Weapons. He was entered into N.C.I.C., a national database of wanted persons.

On November 1, 2022, Myers was involved in an altercation in Scarborough, Maine. Police were called to a business due to a disturbance, and Myers was identified. Police ran his name through N.C.I.C. and Myers was arrested by Scarborough Police as a Fugitive from Bogalusa and BPD was notified. Myers will be brought back to Louisiana following extradition proceedings.

BPD further reports that it is believed at least two other suspects were with Myers when Allen was shot. Results of forensic evidence is pending, and may reveal the identity of the other suspects. 

Update by Bogalusa Police on Tuesday's Murder

The Bogalusa Police Department has advised that Bogalusa Detectives identified and located the vehicle used in the drive-by shooting Tuesday (August 23, 2022) that left 50 year-old Veronique Allen dead at 1421 Main Street in Bogalusa, Louisiana.  

Surveillance video in the area captured the vehicle as the shooting took place. More video evidence was gathered and the license plate number was obtained. The vehicle was registered to a subject in western Louisiana, and had been reported stolen early Tuesday. Detectives began tracking the vehicle as it travelled west on Interstate 12, and police agencies in the southwestern portion of the state were contacted. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office located the car and a pursuit was initiated. The suspects evaded police long enough to abandon the car and they escaped on foot. Although they have not yet been located, valuable evidence was left behind. 

Bogalusa Detectives travelled to Lafayette Parish Tuesday night to continue the investigation. The vehicle is being processed, and BPD is confident that the suspects will eventually be identified.

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Original Story (August 23, 2022) 

Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette praised the quick response of law enforcement and asked for the community to remain calm after an apparent drive-by shooting this morning (August 23, 2022) that resulted in the death of a 50 year-old Bogalusa woman.

According to preliminary information, the victim was an innocent bystander and not an intended target when the shots were fired in the 1400 block of Main Street.

Bogalusa Police report that several people were inside the residence at 1421 Main Street and that 50 year-old Veronique Allen was deceased when police arrived on the scene. BPD further states that detectives are following several leads and that anyone with information is asked to call the Bogalusa Police Detective Division at (985) 732-6238.

The Louisiana State Police, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, and federal authorities are assisting the Bogalusa Police Department.

“We have had enough violence in Bogalusa, and I call on every citizen to cooperate with police while they investigate this horrible crime,” Perrette said. “The devaluing of human life in the name of the drug trade and gang allegiances should never happen anywhere, and the people of our community are fed up.”

“Bogalusa P.D. can’t do it alone,” the Mayor said. “We need every citizen to stand up, step forward, and unite against crime. We need to seek rational, lawful means to resolve disputes, and never resort to violence. We need our faith community to stand resolutely in reminding people that we worship a God of peace – a God who calls upon all of us to play a role in stemming the tide of violence.”

Perrette remains quarantined at home after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.