Lafayette Police arrest two Vermillion Parish men for allegedly assaulting a man who was walking home from Festivals Acadiens et Créoles last month. Tristan Frederick and Tynes Chaney, who are both 23, are charged with second-degree battery in the October 12th attack on Dustyn Cope. Sergeant Robin Green says important evidence led investigators to the two men.
“We were able to track down video that actually showed the attack happening as Mr. Cope walked home after the festival,” Green said.
Cope is half Filipino and says the attack was racially motivated, with his attackers and others with them calling him racial slurs. Sergeant Green says the exact motive at this time, however, remains unclear.
“As far as it being racially or some kind of other motivation, we could not prove that,” Green said.
Green says attacks like this one cast a very dark shadow on Lafayette.
“We want people to feel safe in our community. And senseless acts like that, sometimes it will make our community terrified to get out and enjoy the nightlife that we have here,” Green said.
