Alexandria, LA for release (4/7/25)
On Sunday, April 6, 2025, the Alexandria Police Department took 29-year-old Damirian Shorts into custody in Dallas, TX, and transported him back to Alexandria, LA, where he was arrested and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. Shorts was wanted in connection with the September 17, 2024, homicide of 58-year-old Verna Francis.
This is currently an ongoing investigation.
If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number (318) 441-6416 or APD Dispatch (318) 441-6559. You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.
For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile.
