Jury selection begins for 1st defendant accused of killing Ball resident Devin Brooks

Jury selection began Tuesday in the second-degree murder trial of Terrance K. Lavalais, accused of killing Ball resident Deven Slade Brooks in January 2022.

Brooks' body was found Jan. 11, 2022, near the Purple Heart Memorial Bridge in Alexandria. He had been bound with cables, zip ties and duct tape and shot once in his head.

He had been reported as a possible kidnapping victim to the Ball Police Department two days before his body was found. He was 27.

Lavalais is one of three defendants in the death of Brooks and is the first to go to trial. The other defendants, Jamaria Xavier Randle and Tremaine Deshun Veal, also were indicted on charges of second-degree murder.

At a previous hearing in which Lavalais unsuccessfully sought to have his $1 million bail reduced, Alexandria Police Department Detective Jason Mouliere testified investigators believe Brooks was targeted for his iPhone and a credit card attached to it.

Mouliere also testified the phone was used to buy items and get cash from automated teller machines after Brooks' death.

Detective:Investigators believe Deven Brooks killed for iPhone, credit card

Deven Slade Brooks homicide:State rejects defense's plea bargain offer for 1 of 3 charged in January slaying

He said Randle gave a statement to police, but changed it the next day and named Lavalais as the one who shot Brooks. She claimed Veal provided the gun that was used to shoot him, he testified.

Veal's trial is set for Feb. 6, while Randle's is scheduled for Feb. 13.

Jury selection in Lavalais' trial is expected to continue Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Trial starts for man accused of killing Ball resident Devin Brooks