by Wesley Harris
Police announced today that investigators have obtained warrants for a Bastrop man in connection with the death of a Ruston man and the wounding of several others on the evening of Easter Sunday.
Ruston Police Lieutenant Kayla Loyd said Zyheim T. Butcher, 23, of Bastrop, is wanted for second degree murder, four counts of attempted second degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a machine gun. Bail set at the time of the issuance of the warrants is $2.7 million.
Loyd said the investigation into the April 20 incident is continuing as well as a search for Butcher.
Officials told the Lincoln Parish Journal earlier this week that it is believed the shooter used a pistol with a switch to convert it to an illegal fully automatic machine gun.
Butcher is well known to north Louisiana law enforcement.
He was arrested in connection with a deadly shooting at Grambling State University during its homecoming week in October 2021.
Butcher is charged in a October 17 shooting, the second of two on the GSU campus during Homecoming.
Three shootings occurred during GSU Homecoming week. Two of the shootings were on campus while a third occurred at a mobile home park between Grambling and Ruston. None of the alleged shooters had a connection to GSU and most of those injured were also non-students.
The incident was one of several which led to significant changes to security on the GSU campus.
Butcher, then 19, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in December 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas, and transferred back to Lincoln Parish by Louisiana State Police detectives. His bail was set at $3 million.
A cursory records check showed no current court information on the status of the GSU case.
In January 2023, the Bastrop Police Department arrested Butcher in connection with the murder of two men in a vehicle at the dead end of Rosena Street. In that case, investigators obtained warrants for Butcher and arrested him January 23 for second degree murder, aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of a weapon.
The prosecution of that case is still pending. According to court records, Butcher was released on bail and last appeared in Fourth District Court in August 2024 where he rejected a plea offer in the case. He is scheduled to return for a motions hearing on May 19.
Other pending cases against Butcher scheduled for hearings that day include illegal carrying of weapons, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, underage DWI, two counts of possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, several traffic charges, and second degree battery.
Lt. Loyd urged anyone with information on Butcher’s whereabouts or the April 20 shooting to contact the Ruston Police at 318-255-4141.
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