East Baton Rouge Parish, La. — David Catherine, a 23-year-old artist known by the stage name RealBleeda, faces serious charges in connection with a tragic shooting that claimed the life of Teressa Calligan, a respected community advocate. Alongside two other members of the alleged Bleedas gang—20-year-old Roger Parker and 19-year-old Robert Lewis—Catherine has been indicted for first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, as announced by the East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury on Thursday.
Calligan, 31, was gunned down on September 15, 2024, while waiting at a stoplight at the intersection of Airline Highway and Greenwell Street. Eyewitness reports indicate that another vehicle, believed to be driven by Catherine and his companions, pulled up next to her car before someone inside opened fire, hitting Calligan multiple times. The assault caused her vehicle to roll into an intersection, ultimately colliding with a sheriff’s deputy’s cruiser.
District Attorney Hillar Moore expressed the community’s shock and grief following Calligan’s death, describing her as a dedicated figure in the neighborhood known for her advocacy work. “I went to her funeral, and everyone in the community knew who she was,” Moore stated. “She was a peaceful lady, and to see her shot down like that really alarmed everyone.”
During her lifetime, Calligan contributed significantly as a director for the Futures Fund, a teenage coding initiative, and was deeply involved in programs aimed at supporting the working poor through the Walls Project. On the day of her death, she had been returning from a fundraiser for a judicial candidate, which heightened the sense of loss felt by her friends and colleagues.
The prosecutor noted that Calligan’s case is somewhat unusual, as many homicide victims are known to their assailants. In this instance, it appears that she was an unintended target. “It seems likely that they did not mean to harm her,” Moore remarked, acknowledging the randomness of the event.
All three men charged have ties to the Bleedas gang, a criminal organization under police scrutiny for its activities in the Glen Oaks neighborhood. Authorities had been monitoring this group for years due to ongoing concerns about gang-related violence.
Catherine’s criminal history includes a May 2025 arrest for allegedly brandishing a weapon in a mall, which led to his extradition to East Baton Rouge after he became a suspect in Calligan’s killing. His presence in the community has previously attracted controversy; in March 2025, he faced criticism after visiting Park Forest Middle School, where he filmed a TikTok video with students, prompting public outrage regarding potential gang influence in schools.
As developments continue to unfold, Catherine is scheduled to appear in court for a bond review on October 29. The indictment of Catherine and his alleged accomplices has intensified the community’s desire for answers and justice, marking a significant moment in a case that has resonated deeply among residents.