BATON ROUGE, La. – A Louisiana father who stepped up to defend his daughter from a group of taunting teenagers was shot three times at close range, and now the shooter is walking away with a sweetheart plea deal that has outraged locals and law-and-order advocates.
Corey Breaux was outside his family's apartment on Newcastle Avenue in March 2025 when he confronted teens who had been bullying his daughter, repeatedly mocking her as an "emo girl" and terrorizing the neighborhood. Surveillance video obtained by local media shows Breaux approaching the group. Moments later, 19-year-old Jerry Huggins allegedly pulled a gun and opened fire, striking the unarmed father in the neck, abdomen, and groin.
Breaux collapsed on the pavement as his wife and children watched in horror. He survived but suffered serious injuries that left him hospitalized."This gentleman was doing nothing wrong. He was trying to defend his daughter against a bunch of bullies who were out there terrorizing his daughter, so he stood up," Baton Rouge Police Information Officer Saundra Watts said at the time, according to reports.
Huggins was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon, charges that carried the possibility of serious prison time. But on Monday, June 16, 2026, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the far lesser charges of aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of a weapon. He now faces up to 15 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday.
The reduced charges have sparked widespread fury online and in the community, with many calling it yet another example of a justice system that prioritizes criminals over victims, especially parents trying to protect their children.
"Up to 15 years for shooting a dad three times in broad daylight? That’s not justice," one social media user wrote in response to video of the incident, which has gone viral with millions of views. Others demanded life without parole or questioned why Huggins wasn’t held fully accountable.
Breaux, who has spoken out about the trauma his family endured, told reporters he acted instinctively as any father would. His daughter had been targeted before, and he was tired of the harassment.
Critics argue the plea deal sends the wrong message: that pulling a gun on an unarmed man defending his child carries minimal consequences. With sentencing looming, many are watching to see if the judge will deliver real punishment or another slap on the wrist.
This incident comes amid a national conversation about rising crime, parental rights, and the need for tougher penalties to deter young thugs who resort to gunfire instead of fists. Families in Baton Rouge and across America deserve better than a system that fails to protect the innocent.
