Deputies arrest 4 in LSU student Madison Brooks case

Deputies have arrested four men in connection with an incident that eventually led to LSU student Madison Brooks being hit and killed by a vehicle in BR.

Published : Jan. 23, 2023 at 4:30 PM CST | Updated : Jan. 24, 2023 at 7:55 AM CST
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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Deputies have arrested four men in connection with an incident that eventually led to LSU student Madison Brooks being hit and killed by a vehicle in Baton Rouge earlier this month.

Two of the males have been charged with third-degree rape in the case, investigators said. The other two have been charged with principal to rape, meaning they were present but did not take part in the alleged crime, arrest documents show.

Deputies charged both Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, of Walker, and an unidentified minor with third-degree rape. The minor is 17 years old. CLICK HERE for a link to Washington’s arrest warrant.

Everette Lee, 28, of Pine Grove, and Casen Carver, 18, of Denham Springs, were both charged with principal to third-degree rape.

Both Washington and Carver are graduates of Walker High School. Carver was a member of the baseball team there.

A third-degree rape charge generally involves a victim who is “incapable of resisting or of understanding the nature of the act by reason of a stupor or abnormal condition of mind produced by an intoxicating agent or any cause and the offender knew or should have known of the victim’s incapacity,” according to Louisiana law.

Investigators say Carver admitted that he and the three other males went to Reggie’s Bar near the LSU campus and consumed alcohol, the arrest warrant states. He said Brooks left the bar with them and was “very unstable on her feet, was not able to keep her balance, and was unable to speak clearly without slurring her words,” the arrest document states. Carver allegedly told investigators his 17-year-old friend and Brooks were “hugging and walking together.”

Investigators say Carver told them Brooks asked for a ride home with them. He told investigators both Washington and the 17-year-old asked Brooks to have sex with them and she agreed, the warrant states.

Carver told investigators he believed Brooks was too drunk to know that she was consenting to sex and he “hated it,” the warrant states.

Carver says they later dropped off Brooks in a neighborhood near the scene where she was hit on Burbank Drive.

Brooks was standing in a dark portion of Burbank Drive near Pelican Lakes Parkway around 3 a.m. on January 15th when she was struck by a vehicle driven by a ride-share driver. Brooks later died at a hospital.

Investigators say Brooks had a blood-alcohol level of .319g percent, nearly four times the legal limit.

Madison, a sophomore at LSU, was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. The Covington native attended St. Scholastica Academy.

LSU released the following statement on Monday, Jan. 23:

Dear LSU Community,

This afternoon, police arrested four individuals following an investigation into the events preceding the death of LSU student Madison Brooks, who was struck by a vehicle on Burbank Drive last week.

Madison was a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, a niece, a classmate, and a friend to many of you. By all accounts, she was an amazing young woman with limitless potential. She should not have been taken from us in this way. What happened to her was evil, and our legal system will parcel out justice.

Our collective grief and outrage cannot be put into mere words. So what can we do? It is time for action. One place to target our attention is the very place where this encounter began.

All but one of the suspects involved in this horrific scenario were underage yet were able to consume alcohol at a local bar. As such, our action plan starts with a deep and relentless focus on any establishment that profits off our students by providing alcohol to underage individuals. In the coming days, we will call a meeting with these business owners to discuss how their responsibilities directly impact the safety of our students. We will work openly against any business that doesn’t join us in efforts toward creating a safer environment for our students. Enough is enough.

Real and long-lasting solutions require multiple strategies, so we will not stop there. That is why I am asking our entire Baton Rouge community, from business leaders to citizens, to work together and join us in this effort. We will share additional action items in the coming days, but for now please join me in keeping Madison’s family in our thoughts and prayers.

William F. Tate IV, LSU President

LSU also released the below information about mental health resources and safety for students:

I’m sure that you are all aware of the tragic loss of LSU student Madison Brooks. Today, we are deeply upset to learn of new information related to this tragedy as referenced in President Tate’s earlier email. We are heartbroken for Madison’s family and friends.

I know that some of you, especially those who knew Madison well, may be struggling with her death and with this new information. I want to remind you that the LSU Student Health Center’s Mental Health Service offers grief counseling and support to students who would like to talk to someone. Call 225-578-8774 or book an appointment online. The Phone, a 24/7 helpline, is also available for emotional support by calling 225-924-5781. Please don’t be afraid to use these services that are here to help you.

Your safety is paramount to us. And while these events did not occur on our campus, they still brought tragedy upon one of our own. When something occurs in our community, it affects us all. President Tate has called upon the entire Baton Rouge community, from business leaders to citizens, to work together to develop real solutions.

I also want to urge you to use caution and follow good safety practices when going out, especially at night, and to watch out for one another. Please use the buddy system, stay in contact with your friends, and use the LSU Shield app check-in feature to make sure those you care about have returned safely from their outings. Use Campus Transit after dark to get around campus, or call the LSU Police Safe Transport Service if you need a ride after Campus Transit has closed. And please report any suspicious activity to LSU Police at 225-578-3231. Let’s do everything we can to bring about change in Baton Rouge and keep our campus and our community as safe as possible.

Roy Haggerty, LSU Executive Vice President & Provost

The driver of the vehicle that hit her showed no signs or evidence of being impaired, according to deputies.