01/08/2025
T o whom it may concern,
I want to share a story about a young woman named, Jowanna (Jo) Washington. On August 5,
2023 her life was shattered. Jowanna and her children had moved back to Lafayette, her
hometown, from Houston just two weeks prior. She and her children lived with her aunt and her
brother. Her sister Nichole, and 23 month old niece, Raina, lived close by also. August 5, 2023
the family spent the day together. After a fun day of swimming and playing, the tired kids were
all put to bed, safe and supervised. The adult siblings were hanging out, and catching up.
Jowanna’s brother, John Nicholas, had a toxic relationship with Diamond Lee. Ms. Lee had filed
a protective order against John, yet still came to his home to hang out. The two began to argue.
Jo and her sister went across the street to avoid the drama. Somehow the police were called
for a domestic violence situation. The police have not been forthcoming with information, so it is
not known exactly how this transpired. When police arrived they were able to speak to Ms. Lee
and she was safely removed from the home unharmed. At this time there should have no
longer been any immediate danger. Diamond Lee had violated the protective order she
requested, but she was allowed to freely go. The police no longer had any valid reason to be at
this home. They were not in “hot pursuit,
” the only crime they witnessed was Ms. Diamond Lee
violating the protective order she requested. There was no arrest or search warrant at this time.
John Nicholas has mental health issues and is terrified of police. The police were very familiar
with him, and vice versa. They knew where he worked, he attended court ordered domestic
violence classes, and 4 months prior to this John Nicholas’s best friend was shot and killed by
police. Sadly, the police were determined to hunt John Nicholas down at all costs, putting
innocent third parties in harm’s way. Comply or die, not protect and serve, John’s fear was
valid.
Nichole rushed to the house to find out what was going on and to ensure law enforcement
knew there were innocent children and her elderly aunt, Mary Prejean, in the home. The police
did acknowledge, but aggressively told her to stay back. She was begging them to let her get
the kids and try to talk to her brother. She had seen John Nicholas’s girlfriend come out of the
house unharmed and was pleading for the officers to back down and allow her aunt and the kids
to leave the home. The officers had no legal reason to keep her from the home.
According to her aunt Mary, she heard Ms. Lee leave the home. Mary got up to lock the door,
not realizing police were inside. They told her to leave, and she said she was going to Raina,
her great niece from the bedroom. This is when police saw John peak out of a bedroom and
they immediately began firing. The officers outside kicked in the door firing shots also. He saw
his aunt get hit and fall down. At this point he did go get his gun to return fire. The scene
became a war zone. Jowanna’s 19 month old daughter, Kaci Giselle Cyprian, was shot once in
the arm followed by a fatal head shot. Her, 4 year old, autistic son Kaisyn Cyprian was shot in
his dominant hand causing permanent paralysis. Her aunt Mary is permanently disabled from
multiple gun shot wounds. John Nicholas, the “suspect” suffered multiple shots in his legs and
torso. One officer, Hali Bradford, was shot in the hip, allegedly by the suspect, but the radio call
for an ambulance , stated it was self inflicted and accidental. (according to a witness.). John
Nicholas does not recall if he fired any shots or how many if he did. He did have a revolver, not
an automatic weapon.
This was a tragedy and a failure by all standards. Many questions need to be answered and the
incident needs to be fully investigated. The police have attributed all blame to John Nicholas
Thomas. However, they will not release any information, and this seems improbable.
Concerns include, but are not limited to the following:
-How could Lafayette Police determine this was a “T op Cop” award deserving performance?
These officers were given national accolades and awards in Washington DC for this failure.
-Police have refused to release body cam footage, incident reports, and even Kaci’s autopsy
This needs to be done immediately! This should be mandatory based on The Police
report. Accountability Act.
-Why was there no effort to deescalate? What is the standard for determining a babies life can
be “Collateral Damage?” These are the exact words the department used to explain to a
grieving mother.
-Why did police fail to render aid or request EMS services? Jowanna and her son were taken to
the hospital by a neighbor. Police would not inform the family on Kaci’s condition other than to
say she was okay, but needed medical attention. Kaci was concealed and put in a police car
that left the scene. Mary Prejean was eventually removed from the home, but was left in the
front yard waiting for aid.
-Why did the officer state they were waiting for the judge to sign a warrant after officers had
kicked in the door and began shooting?
-Why was Nicole taken into custody and held at the police station for hours without being told
she was free to leave to be with her family, and be updated on their conditions?
-Why was the crime scene not secured or investigated? The front door was kicked in and the
bedroom window broken. Evidence was not collected and the innocent victims were left with
the responsibility of cleaning the crime scene, biohazards and bullets included. Kaci’s cat was
shot and left dead on the floor. This is barbaric and traumatizing.
-Why was this family not shown any basic human compassion? Victim services? At minimum
condolences for loss of a baby?
Several witnesses and some video footage does exist from outside the home. received is disturbing.
The information
-Jowana’s aunt, brother, and witnesses all claim police fired first and unnecessarily. The
suspect was not armed until after he saw his aunt shot, then he went to retrieve his gun.
-police stated they had not rendered aid because they were waiting on a warrant. Why would
they be waiting on a warrant after illegally entering the home if not to cover their actions?
-After John Nicholas had agreed to surrender but had explained he was unable to walk due to
being shot in both legs, police allowed him to bleed out until he was unconscious. At this point
they released the dogs to maul him as they cheered and celebrated. THIS IS BARBARIC AND
UNACCEPTABLE!
-John Nicholas was in a coma and hospitalized for an extended period. Upon hospital discharge
he was incarcerated and has been denied any rehabilitation or follow up medical attention. He
is receiving his psych meds.
WHAT IS NEEDED
-Please share and bring attention to this tragedy. and on social media!
Media is welcomed, use
-Jowanna and her family have been denied all Victims services and reparations as police have
blocked it all by refusing required reports and even preventing social workers at the hospital
from getting involved. The family was left to clean the crime scene, biohazards and all. They
deserve better and need to be supported through the grief and trauma, not to be further
marganilized.
-Please support the go fund me in hopes of primarily securing legal representation for Kaci first
and John Nicholas if possible. He has only met with his public defender once, and his public
defender has never been present when John was brought to court appearances. How was the
indictment filed without John Nicholas’s attorney present?
-Police and city government need to be transparent and release the footage. They claim it is an
open investigation, but already have a grand jury indictment. This is clearly deceptive as the
code of criminal procedure mandates the investigation prior to indictment. Once grand jury
charges are filed, these are the only available considerations for the jury at trial. Without an
investigation this could be a significant failure.
-Please let leaders and media know this is important to many citizens, and cannot be swept
under the rug. Any and all help is welcome and greatly appreciated!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
It is important to Jowanna for her baby to leave a legacy. This family donated Kaci’s heart to
save a life, even in grief they still had compassion. Jowanna says,
“She lost half of everything
she loves.
” It is important to her to fine a purpose in her pain. She wants to bring legislation in
Kaci’s honor called KACI’S LAW. Louisiana is one of 18 states that do not require mandatory
deescalation training. Deescalation is statistically proven to be the safest and most effective
way to resolve an incident. Excessive force has the opposite effect not only in the moment, but
in community trust. Safe communities are built with law enforcement and citizens working
together, not at war with each other. KACI’s LAW would make deescalation training mandatory
for all law enforcement in this state. Additionally, proposing mandatory protocols that prioritize
the preservation of life over an arrest, when there is no immediate danger. Lastly, to mandate
drawing guns be a last resort in the presence of children. We already have a society that does
not value life, and we need to change this narrative.
KACI AND HER FAMILY DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH AND ACCOUNTABILITY . THIS
IS NOT OKAY! CHANGE IS THE ONLY WAY THIS DOES NOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
LAFAYETTE LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE KNOWN FOR THIS BEHAVIOR AND IT HAS TO
STOP FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY .
My name is Jowanna Washington I am seeking assistance in obtaining funds … Jowanna Washington needs your support for Reveal the Truth: Support Kaci and Kaisyn
