By Monique Roth

LUTCHER — A St. James Parish man accused of second-degree murder said he fired the fatal shots purely in self-defense.

Darnell Robertson Sr., 48, of 234 Lionel Washington St. in Lutcher was arrested last month on charges of second-degree murder and carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon.

St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin Jr. said Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting call at 3:55 p.m. Sept. 24 near the intersection of Fifth Street and West Lebray Street in Lutcher.

Martin said officers who arrived at the scene learned one individual, Mickquell Duhone, had been shot and was taken to East St. James Hospital by someone passing the intersection. He died from his wounds approximately two hours later.

Through their investigation and witness accounts, Martin said deputies learned the shooting was the culmination of a fight that took place between Duhone and Robertson.

Robertson told L’OBSERVATEUR this week the altercation between himself and Duhone started Sept. 23, one day before the shooting. He said he was playing dominoes under his pecan tree when Duhone started to harass him about seeing and using the hydraulic jack in his truck.

Robertson said he called Duhone’s finance and aunt about the altercation and asked them to help intervene in the situation, but to no avail.

Robertson said on Sept. 24 Duhone and other men approached him as he was playing dominoes and started to physically assault him.

“I’m disabled,” Robertson said. “I’m not supposed to be fighting anybody.”

Robertson said the men knocked him down and started to hit him over the head with a chair before he was able to break free.

“What was I supposed to do?” Robertson said. “(Duhone) was beating the (expletive) out of me.”

Robertson said in self-defense he shot Duhone in the arm, shoulder and side after he saw Duhone point a gun at him. Robertson said he has not been advised of any court date for the charges.

“When I was young maybe I did things people didn’t agree with,” Robertson said, adding that now he tries to live a clean life of helping his community.

Martin said the only other arrests that may stem from the case is that of individuals who may have been involved in the fight, but said Robertson is the only suspect in the homicide.