A Shreveport man faces life in prison after being convicted of murder and related charges in Caddo District Court Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Desmond Latimmer Johnson of Shreveport, 27, was found guilty as charged of second-degree murder and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s courtroom.
His murder sentence must be served without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. On each count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, he faces imprisonment for five to 20 years, also without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence and a fine of from $1,000 to $5,000.
The six-man, six-woman jury deliberated just under a half-hour before returning with unanimous verdicts. The jury determined that on December 15, 2020, Mr. Johnson encountered his victim, Reginald Young, walking down Jordan Street. The two men argued, whereupon Mr. Johnson pulled out a .40 caliber gun and fired five shots at close range, killing Mr. Young. Johnson then fled, discarding two handguns, including the murder weapon, while being observed by police. He was detained and arrested. His previous convictions are for second-degree battery and attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2014, as well as domestic abuse with strangulation in 2019.
Mr. Johnson was remanded and will be formally sentenced May 10, 2022.
Mr. Johnson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Nancy Berger-Schneider. He was represented by Katherine Evans and Royal Alexander.
This marked the fifth felony jury trial in Caddo District Court this week, a record for this court. All trials were conducted with social distancing and other precautions in effect for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those other trials this week, and their verdicts, are:
- Willie Dewayne Lynn, 36, guilty as charged, attempted second-degree murder,Wednesday, April 20, 2022, before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.
- Taniel Cole, 42, guilty responsively of attempted manslaughter, guilty as charged on four counts of second-degree kidnapping and guilty as charged of armed robbery with the use of a firearm, Wednesday, April 20, 2022, before District Judge Chris Victory.
- John Arthur Thomas, 55, guilty as charged,simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, before District Judge Mike Pitman, stepping in from the civil court to assist with the heavy criminal trial load.
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Tre’Veon Demarcus Anderson, 29, guilty as charged, second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, before Judge John D. Mosely Jr. Co-defendant Glen Frierson was acquitted on both charges. A third man charged, Lawrence Guydell Pierre II, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder April 4, 2022.