Staff Report
A Church Point teenager is set to stand trial in February in the shooting death of another Church Point teen.
Nicholas W. Ardoin, 18, is scheduled to be tried on Feb. 1, 2021, in connection with the Nov. 2 shooting of 14-year-old Trey’kwan Butler.
Ardoin, who was arrested the following day, Nov. 3, is charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property. Ardoin was initially charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder, but one of the attempted second-degree murder charges was amended following the victim’s death on Nov. 3.
Ardoin was arraigned on the charges on Nov. 13 and entered a plea of not guilty. He will be represented by public defender Attorney Brian T. Langford of Crowley. Langford declined to comment on the upcoming trial date.
A judge has not yet been assigned to the case. Assistant District Attorney Jack Nickel will prosecute.
Keith Stutes, district attorney for the 15th Judicial District that includes Acadia, Lafayette and Vermilion parishes said, “We have received notice of this trial, and we will be prepared for the trial when the time comes.”
On Nov. 6, Cameron Byers, 16, of Church Point, was also arrested in connection with the shooting, and he was also charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property. Byers will be arraigned on the charges on Dec. 18, and will be tried as an adult.
As of Dec. 2, Byers had yet to retain a lawyer.
In addition to the second-degree murder charge, the bill of indictment against Ardoin and Byers also lists two charges of attempted second-degree murder of a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old.
Ardoin and Byers were both booked into the Acadia Parish Jail.
The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. in the city limits of Church Point near South McMillan and East Ebey streets. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Church Point Police Department, conducted an investigation into the incident.
Investigators determined two victims were shot at multiple times by a pair of suspects while walking. Butler was struck and was transported by air to an area hospital.