Families of men shot to death in Donaldsonville double murder seek answers

DONALDSONVILLE, LA (WAFB) - A mother whose son was shot and killed described his murderers as ruthless and dangerous.

It happened in Donaldsonville on January 26 around 3:30 p.m. The pain is still so very fresh for Bridgette Booker.

"Nobody knows the pain of losing your child," Booker said.

Her child, Benny Durell Booker, 29, was found on Latino Drive. He wasn't the only victim, though. Chad Nichols, 37, was also shot and killed. It was his home where this all happened.

A bullet hole in the doorframe serves as a stark reminder of what took place that day. So, too, does the memorial on the lawn. It is the spot where he was found. His stepfather was at the scene quickly and remembers EMS showing up.

"When they got here, he had succumbed," Marvin Gros, Nichols' stepfather. "They put their fingers over his eyes and he passed. I had to tell her."

The her he is referring to is Nichols' mother.

Investigators have tied surveillance video to the crime. It shows a white BMW speeding out of town. Detectives believe it was the killers driving off right after the shooting on their way back to New Orleans. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre with the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office believes that's where the killers are from.

"Some of the bullet casings found at the scene are linked back to at least four or five shootings in New Orleans," Webre said.

There is also some new information about the BMW. It had temporary tags on it.

"Kind of like a dealer tag. We think maybe a waving flag. A red, white and blue emblem along with that temporary tag," Webre described.

The killers also stole Booker's car. It is a Dodge Magnum. It was later found in New Orleans East. It was burned almost beyond recognition.

Both families just want answers now. There is still such disbelief with how everything happened.

"When someone is on the ground and you keep shooting them in the back, you really don't have any compassion for the person's life," Gros added.

There is even more heartbreaking details related to the tragedy. Bridgette Booker's oldest son, Tim, was shot and killed back in the 90s. She's lost them both. Now, she leans on the other "man" of the house. Her dog is named Man. She calls him her third son. He is her protector and her comfort. He wants answers just as badly. Everybody involved hopes he gets them.

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