Defense Filed Motion to Suppress Flock Camera Data
A Baton Rouge defense attorney has challenged evidence in the 2024 murder case of Tahj Carter.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Defense attorney Elizabeth Warner has filed a motion to suppress evidence in the murder trial of Tahj Carter. Carter faces second-degree murder charges related to the 2024 death of Jarvion Johnson.
Why it matters
The defense contends that law enforcement failed to preserve additional potentially exculpatory footage from Flock license plate readers. This challenge questions the integrity of digital evidence used to link the defendant to the crime scene.
The defense filed a motion to suppress Flock camera evidence on September 30, 2026. Tahj Carter remains charged with second-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Jarvion Johnson.
The players
Tahj Carter
The 21-year-old defendant stands accused of second-degree murder.
Jarvion Johnson
The 20-year-old victim was fatally shot in his car.
Elizabeth Warner
She serves as the defense attorney representing the accused in this murder case.
The details
Prosecutors used a network of license plate readers and home surveillance to identify a vehicle linked to the shooting on Tams Drive. The defense also alleges that police interrogated the 21-year-old defendant before obtaining an official arrest warrant.
Timeline
March 17, 2024: Jarvion Johnson was killed on Tams Drive.
March 21, 2024: Tahj Carter was arrested by police.
September 30, 2026: The motion to suppress evidence was filed.
November 16, 2026: The murder trial is scheduled to begin.
Legal Context
The challenge highlights the growing friction between automated surveillance technology and established rules of criminal evidence discovery. Courts across the country are increasingly forced to address how digital data retention policies intersect with the rights of defendants.
This case may set a local precedent for how law enforcement agencies manage and store digital evidence captured by public surveillance networks. Residents should note that the resolution could influence future investigative transparency requirements in the area.
The takeaway
This motion highlights the critical importance of proper data preservation when digital surveillance is used to build a criminal case. Defense strategies increasingly focus on these technical gaps to challenge the reliability of state-provided evidence.
What happens next
The trial for Tahj Carter is scheduled to take place on November 16, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local legal proceedings at Baton Rouge Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBRZ.
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