On Wednesday March 8, 2023 in the early morning hours, Berwick Police Department Investigators teamed up with the Louisiana State Police Fugitive Task Force, Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU), and Louisiana Attorney Generals Investigators (LBI) and continued searching for WANTED person Da’mari Watkins in reference to the shooting that occurred on February 17, 2023 on the U.S. Hwy 90 Bridge in Berwick. During the course of the day, investigators were able to gather information that led them to Terrebonne Parish where more information could be gathered. Through investigative means, investigators were able to find a possible location of Watkins whereabouts in the Lafayette area. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted in which they later went to an address in the Lafayette area and made contact with Watkins. He was taken into custody without incident and later transported to Lafayette Parish Jail where he was processed as a Fugitive and then turned over to Berwick Police investigators. Watkins was later booked in to the Berwick Jail on the charges of 4 Counts of Attempted First Degree Murder. He remains incarcerated with no bond set at this time.
Chief David Leonard would like to thank the following agencies for their hard work in assisting our agency with the apprehension of this individual: Louisiana State Police Fugitive Task Force, Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU), Louisiana Attorney Generals Investigators (LBI), Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Morgan City Police Department, and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Leonard would like to let the criminal element know that we will not tolerate this type of gun violence in our town. We will use every investigative tool possible to seek you out and bring you to justice if you are involved in this type of activity.
All Subjects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty