Suspect arrested in July 2 slaying

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jul 10, 2009 - Page: 1B -- Acadiana Edition

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CARENCRO — Police arrested a 19-year-old man in the July 2 shooting death of 41-year-old Mark Boutin.

Police Chief Carlos Stout said investigators determined Troydell Simmons, of Carencro, shot Boutin once in the head with a 9 mm handgun while attempting to rob him.

The shooting occurred in the 700 block of Fado Street.

Boutin was found on the ground next to a vehicle.

It was the second homicide Carencro police have worked since 2003 and the first since 2007, Stout said.

“We take this personal when we have this kind of crime that occurs in our community,” Stout said.
Stout said countless interviews, more than 100 hours of investigative work and forensic technology led investigators to Simmons.

Officers also allegedly located the handgun used in the shooting and had it analyzed.

He said the department received confirmation Thursday from the Acadiana Crime Lab and secured a warrant for Simmons’ arrest.

Simmons was already incarcerated at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center for allegedly being in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, Stout said.

Stout said Simmons has a prior criminal history and is well known to officers.

Stout said there is still more work to do, but he hoped the arrest brings temporary closure to Boutin’s family, many of whom were in attendance at a news conference Thursday evening announcing the arrest.

Boutin’s brother, Bobby Aucoin, described Boutin as a fun-loving guy who you either loved or hated.

“Most people loved him,” Aucoin said. “He was a real good guy.”