VERMILION PARISH - According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Public Information Officer Eddie Langlinais, in the early morning hours of September 7, 2021, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call about a burglary in progress at a local gun shop on Woodlawn Road within Vermilion Parish.
As the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division was enroute, along with the assistance of the Maurice Police Department and Abbeville Police Department, a vehicle was observed traveling from the direction of the location of the reported burglary. While attempting to conduct a stop, the vehicle fled in an attempt to evade police.
The vehicle soon crashed where multiple suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office K9 was called to assist in tracking suspects. The driver was apprehended and taken into custody without further incident. All firearms matching the descriptions of what was taken from the gun shop totaling $20, 261.76 were recovered.
The driver, Dante’ DeShawne Citizen (B/M, DOB: 04/08/1999), was arrested and booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center for Simple Burglary (2 counts), Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms (32 counts), Simple Criminal Damage to Property, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. Bond set at $110,000.
Through further investigation by the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Offices Criminal Investigations, the following adult suspects were also arrested and booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center:
Damien Damon Briggs (B/M, DOB: 02/06/1994), charged with Simple Burglary (2 counts), Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms (32 counts), Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Illegal Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (32 counts), and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. Bond set at $160,000.
Tawaski Tavon Lewis (B/M, DOB: 08/29/1989), charged with Simple Burglary, Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms (32 counts), Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Illegal Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (32 counts), and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. Bond set at $138,000.
Travon Travel Citizen (B/M, DOB: 07/18/2003), charged with Simple Burglary (2 counts), Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearm (32 Counts), Simple Criminal Damage, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. Bond set at $47,000.
Jeremy Cole Briggs (B/M, DOB: 07/10/1989), charged with Simple Burglary and Conspiracy to commit Simple Burglary. Bond set at $50,000.
An unnamed juvenile has also been arrested and charged with Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearm (32 Counts) and Simple Criminal Damage to Property.
This investigation is still ongoing. Updates may follow as more information becomes available.
