Ensuring justice is key, fatal beating outside Shreveport nightclub

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – In the case of 43-year-old Christopher J. Temple, a Webster Parish man who died from his injuries after being beat outside of a downtown Shreveport nightspot in late January, Shreveport Police Department says it is complex there is more to the story.

SPD says they are working with the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office to ensure that justice is served for every person involved.

“Unfortunately, that situation was made worse by two individuals, both of which having made poor decisions and Shreveport Police Department is doing everything they can to come in and clean the mess,” said Corporal Chris Bordelon with the Shreveport Police Department.

On Sunday, January 26th around 5:40 a.m. the fatal beating occurred along Commerce Street. The suspect, 25-year-old Trevor Moses, has arrested and charged with Second Degree Battery.

Corporal Bordelon says in these cases the principle of Graham v. Connor is the standard, in which actions and the use of force are judged based on whether they are justifiable and reasonable.

In a video from January 26th, it is shown that Temple swung and hit Moses first.

“And you take those two things intermittently, the justification and was it reasonable. Did the officer, or the civilian in this case, were they justified in using force, did they have a reason to use force, and then was the force that they used reasonable,” said the Corporal.

He adds that these cases require a lot of thought, process and could go to grand jury.

“Obviously this is a very messy situation and there are no good options right now so we’re going to do the best we can to hold people accountable, seek justice for the victims, and do everything we can to keep our city together because understanding this is a very complicated situation and obviously there’s a lot of people with hurt feelings and families in mourning,” said Corporal Bordelon.