A Shreveport man who fired more than a dozen shots into his girlfriend’s former boyfriend in the parking lot of a Highland neighborhood apartment complex was found guilty of manslaughter Friday, September 27, 2024, in Caddo District Court.
Antonio LeCedric Ray Johnson, 29, was unanimously convicted by the nine-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court after deliberations lasting approximately three hours. The trial began Monday, September 23.
After hearing witnesses, including the defendant, and assessing evidence, jurors determined that Johnson killed his romantic rival, Travarrius Adams, at the Oak Meadows apartments in the 1900 block of Centenary Boulevard on May 27, 2020. Mr. Adams drove his girlfriend’s vehicle into the apartment complex, accompanied by her and her two young children, and parked next to a vehicle driven by his ex-girlfriend and in which Johnson was a front-seat passenger.
Johnson exited the vehicle armed with a 9mm handgun and fired at least 13 shots, 12 of which struck Mr. Adams. The victim was rushed to a local hospital, but succumbed to his wounds. Prosecutors presented eight witnesses and the defense offered two, including Johnson, who testified that he feared for his life when Mr. Adams parked near him but that he did not intentionally shoot the victim.
When Johnson returns to court December 4, 2024, prosecutors will file a habitual offender bill and seek to have him sentenced as a second-time felony offender. If so found, Johnson will face a sentence of not less than 13 and 1/3 years and up to 80 years in prison.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Bowman and Bill Edwards prosecuted Johnson. He was defended by Richard T-Dale Woolbert.
The case was docket No. 376991.
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