A Caddo Parish jury deliberated just two hours Friday, April 22, 2016, before finding Shreveporter Kevin Ray Bowers, 30, guilty of manslaughter in connection with the August 2014 slaying of Dejuan Kennedy.
Bowers, who shot Kennedy, 22, in the upper body with a semi-automatic rifle in the 4100 block of Jacob Street and later was apprehended by U.S. Marshals, originally was charged with second-degree murder and faced a sentence of life in prison.
For manslaughter, he will be sentenced up to 40 years. His next court date will be May 25, 2016, for post-trial motions. The court ordered a pre-sentence investigation into Bowers, who has previous convictions for second-degree battery in 2003, domestic abuse battery in 2008, attempted possession of a firearm by a felon in 2005 and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute in 2011.
The decision by the five-man, seven-woman jury was read in open court before Caddo District Judge Brady O’Callaghan. Proceedings began Monday, April 18, 2016, with jury selection.
Prosecutors were Monique Y. Metoyer and Mekisha Smith Creal. Bowers was defended by Mary Harried.