Jerel Anthony Smith of Luling, accused of brutally shooting a Metairie man four times in the head for $80 cash, has been charged with second-degree murder and armed robbery by a St. Charles Parish grand jury.
Smith, 31, pleaded not guilty to the charges to Judge Lauren Lemmon in 29th Judicial District Court. When he was arrested, Smith was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, use of a firearm and carjacking.
Smith is accused of killing Ryan Dubuc, 28, on Jan. 9.
Shortly after Smith withdrew $80 from an ATM around 5:30 a.m. at the Birdie’s Food and Fuel on River Road in Luling, Smith approached him for a ride and the left together in Dubuc’s truck.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said Dubuc was “robbed and brutally murdered for as little as $80.”
Dubuc, 28, was shot multiple times and his body found lying on along an access road of La. Highway 3160 in Hahnville at 9:45 a.m. Plant workers discovered his body near a wastewater treatment plant. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time, Dubuc had no identification on him and was identified later that day.
The Sheriff’s Office mobilized an intense investigation that led to Smith’s arrest Jan. 11. Champagne said a S.W.A.T. team arrested Smith at his mother’s residence.
Authorities say they believe Dubuc left his residence in Metairie around headed to work at Cornerstone Chemical in Jefferson Parish and stopped at Birdie’s.
After withdrawing cash, Dubuc was approached by Smith. Detectives do not believe the two knew each other. However, Smith got into Dubuc’s truck and they left together.
Authorities are not sure whether Dubuc allowed Smith into his truck willingly.
Shortly after they left the scene, Dubuc was allegedly shot four times in the head at close range.
Dubuc’s vehicle, a 2006 GMC Sierra, was reported missing and then found that night stuck in the mud in a sugar cane field in Belle Pointe Subdivision in LaPlace.
Champagne confirmed said a “great deal of blood was found” in Dubuc’s truck.
Detectives believe Smith robbed another person, also a plant worker, at the same gas station on Dec. 29 around 4:30 a.m. A witness told police that Smith approached a man with a gun and that they struggled before Smith fled the scene.
When he was arrested, Smith was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, use of a firearm and carjacking.
Champagne said surveillance video also showed Smith was a frequent visitor of that Birdie’s store in Luling.
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