LAKE CHARLES (LA)
KLFY-TV, CBS 10 [Lafayette LA]
March 14, 2025
By Scott Yoshonis
A Lafayette man was recently beaten to death in Lake Charles, authorities said.
Scott Anthony Gastal, 50, was found in the parking lot of a motel in the 1000 block of N. Lakeshore Drive around 10 p.m. on March 2. Gastal appeared to have head injuries, and he was taken to a Lafayette hospital, where he died on Tuesday.
Reese Iles Chaumont, 28, of Lake Charles, was charged with second-degree battery, which was upgraded to second-degree murder when Gastal died, authorities said. Chaumont was originally arrested March 2 by Lake Charles Police on unrelated charges about an hour after the incident occurred, officials said.
Chaumont is being held in the Calcasieu Correctional Center on $650,000 bond.
Detectives say this is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact Lake Charles Police at (337) 491-1311 or anonymously leave a tip on the Lake Charles PD app.