Shawn Harper & Kay’irian Barber died in Alexandria, LA murder-suicide

On Friday afternoon, Alexandria, LA was the site of a tragic murder-suicide that has left the community reeling. Police responded to a call around 2:35 PM regarding a shooting incident on West Sycamore Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered two individuals dead from gunshot wounds. This tragic event, which occurred on the night of July 28, continues to unfold with new details emerging.

The victims were identified as 33-year-old Shawn Harper from Pineville and 23-year-old Kay’irian Barber from Alexandria. Both were found deceased at the scene, having suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Harper and Barber were discovered by the responding officers, who confirmed that both had died as a result of the gunshots.

In addition to these two tragic losses, a third individual was shot and remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Authorities have confirmed that the victim and the suspect were involved in a relationship, which points to the incident being a domestic violence case.

Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy addressed the community, confirming the investigation is now focused on a murder-suicide. Mayor Roy highlighted the difficulty in preventing such domestic incidents, stating, “In the case of West Sycamore, it was apparent early on that it was domestic. We’ve talked about that the…I will not say ‘inability’ to prevent, but I will say it is very hard for you guys to know when a domestic issue is going to come, if not mostly not possible most of the time, so when they occur…and this was a murder-suicide.”

Mayor Roy also mentioned the pressures faced by law enforcement, particularly Chief Gremillion and his team, in making early statements about the nature of the incident without clear evidence of a dynamic situation at play.

The tragic death of Kay’irian Barber has deeply affected the community, especially at Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC), where she was a beloved staff member. The college released a heartfelt statement: “Earlier this week, we were devastated to learn Sunday, our beloved friend Ms. Kay’irian ‘Kay’ Barber’s life was tragically ended by a senseless act of domestic violence. Kay worked at our Alexandria Campus as part of the support team for a partnering organization.”

In honor of Kay, her family has requested that those attending her Homegoing Celebration wear shades of blue, her favorite color, or purple, symbolizing Domestic Violence Awareness. CLTCC’s campuses will also be honoring her memory by wearing these special colors on Thursday, August 1st.

Details for Kay’irian Barber’s Homegoing Celebration are as follows:
Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM (Viewing from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Location: Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church, 125 Harvard Road, Pineville, Louisiana

The Alexandria community continues to mourn the loss of Kay’irian Barber and Shawn Harper, while the third victim remains in critical condition. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on addressing the underlying issues of domestic violence and supporting those affected by this tragic event.