Drunk Driver Arrested for Fatal Hit-and-Run of ASH Baseball Player

Police apprehended the suspect within 12 hours of the incident.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:54pm

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Police in Alexandria, Louisiana have arrested 45-year-old Julius Layfield and charged him with vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injury, and hit-and-run in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that killed 16-year-old ASH baseball player Collin Lacaze and injured a 16-year-old girl on March 31.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the serious dangers of drunk driving and the urgent need for law enforcement to swiftly apprehend suspects in hit-and-run cases to provide justice for victims and their families.

The details

According to police, Lacaze and the 16-year-old girl were standing on the shoulder of Eddie Williams Avenue around 11 p.m. when they were struck by a vehicle driving southbound. The driver, later identified as Julius Layfield, fled the scene. Both victims were rushed to a local medical center with serious injuries, but Lacaze was later pronounced deceased.

  • The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on March 31.
  • Layfield was arrested by Alexandria Police on April 1 at 11 a.m.

The players

Julius Layfield

A 45-year-old man who was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injury, and hit-and-run in connection with the fatal incident.

Collin Lacaze

A 16-year-old baseball player at ASH who was killed in the hit-and-run incident.

Chad Gremillion

The Alexandria Police Department Chief who stated that the suspect was driving drunk at the time of the incident.

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What they’re saying

“The men and women of the Alexandria Police Department worked with urgency and determination to bring this case to a close. Through close coordination with our partners at the Louisiana State Police, the support of our community and the use of the latest law enforcement technology, officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle and make an arrest within 12 hours. Tragically, the victims were struck by a drunk driver, underscoring the serious and often unpredictable dangers surrounding these incidents.”

— Chad Gremillion, Alexandria Police Department Chief

What’s next

The case is currently an ongoing investigation, and the suspect, Julius Layfield, will face charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injury, and hit-and-run.

The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of drunk driving and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and public awareness campaigns to prevent such senseless loss of life.