Tuesday night our office celebrated National Night Out throughout the many neighborhoods of our parish. My staff and I were grateful to go out and meet you at many of the gatherings. I thank you for the hospitality and the food! National Night Out was the perfect culmination of the celebration of the great news from the previous week, as our Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith, Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr., U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown and I shared with you that violent crime numbers are precipitously down in our city and parish from previous years. Please see more details of the Public Safety Partnership federal grant program on the Caddo Parish District Attorney Facebook page. Thank you all for working together in our community to make it better. I promise my office will keep up our diligent work for this community.

Our office had a busy September. Here are a few case highlights:

* 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 September 27 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 courtroom after deliberations lasting approximately three hours. The trial began 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, 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.

* A Shreveport man accused of committing sex acts with a juvenile female relative numerous times in 2016 and early 2017 pleaded guilty September 23, just as his trial was to begin before District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.

Parrish Lynn Bernard, 53, pleaded guilty to molestation of a juvenile for sex acts committed when the female victim, a step-relative aged 4-5 and a younger girl blood-related to him, were alone with him and under his supervision while their mother worked. The offenses occurred between January 6, 2016 and January 5, 2017.

After the pleading, Bernard was sentenced by Judge Mosely to serve 20 years in prison at hard labor.

Bernard was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kendra Joseph and Jasmine Cooper. He was defended by Casey Simpson.

The case was docket No. 383472.

* Two people were convicted for their parts in the tragic 2022 slaying of Shreveport teen Landry Anglin.

Gavontay Carnelious Johnson, 30, pleaded guilty-as-charged September 16 to obstruction of justice for his role in the May 1, 2022 death of Anglin. The 13-year-old girl was struck by a stray bullet while visiting relatives in the 4500 block of Fairfield Avenue. Johnson’s trial was to have commenced November 4.

On May 1st, 2022,Johnson drove a Chevrolet Cavalier east down Erie Street between Fairfield and Line avenues when his passenger, Kenmiccael Ray, opened fire on a White Chrysler 300 that was following. Ray fired a Kel-Tech rifle more than 10 times. One shot struck and killed Miss Anglin. Ray was convicted of the slaying in June.

Johnson fled to his uncle’s house near the intersection of Fairfield and Mitchell Street. There, his car was fired upon by occupants of a Dodge Charger. Video taken following the second shooting shows Johnson and others loading the Cavalier onto a trailer. Johnson fled Louisiana to Texas where he was apprehended less than a week later with Ray. When taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service, both men were found to be in possession of the murder weapon.

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Johnson was sentenced by District Judge Ramona Emanuel to serve 20 years in prison. Kenmiccael Ray has been sentenced to serve life in prison for this tragic murder.

Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Bowman and Ron Christopher Stamps prosecuted the case. Sean Landry defended Johnson.

Johnson’s case was docket No. 389213.

* A third person involved in the Landry Anglin slaying, Tramaine Taylor, 28, pleaded guilty as charged September 19 to illegal use of a weapon from a motor vehicle.

On May 1, 2022, Taylor drove a White Chrysler 300 on Fairfield Avenue behind a gold Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Gavontay Johnson, in which Kenmiccael Ray and his young daughter were passengers. Taylor’s car turned east onto Erie Street, following the Cavalier. From the Cavalier, front-seat passenger Ray opened fire on the Chrysler. Taylor and others in his car returned fire.

Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, Taylor was sentenced by District Judge Ramona Emanuel to serve 10 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed under Louisiana law.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman prosecuted the case. Larion Hillman defended Taylor. One remaining co-defendant in this case still awaits trial.

Taylor’s case was docket No. 391335.

* Two men involved in a shooting at the former Kingston Village Apartments in southwest Shreveport pleaded guilty September 19. The December 5, 2019 shooting resulted in the death of one man. A separate but connected shooting resulted in serious injuries to another.

Nicholas Corinthos Harris, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Tramell “Tray” Lewis, 18. Mr. Lewis was sitting in a vehicle eating a pizza with friends at the apartment complex in the 9000 block of Kingston Road when Harris and LaDarrius Walker approached in a Burgundy SUV and fired more than 20 shots. Lewis suffered a single gunshot to the head. He succumbed to his wound later at Ochsner LSU Health hospital. The case was docket No. 372747.

LaDarrius Treshun Walker, 25, who drove the SUV in the Kingston Village slaying, pleaded guilty as well September 19, admitting to attempted second-degree murder in connection with a shooting that occurred earlier the same day. His victim, an 18-year-old man, was walking on Bethany street looking down at his phone when he heard gunshots. He soon realized that he had been shot in the right arm and left middle finger, and suffered a grazing wound on his buttocks. The case was docket No. 373557.

Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. presided over both trials and sentenced both defendants. Harris was sentenced to 15 years at hard labor. Walker also was sentenced to serve 15 years at hard labor.

Assistant District Attorney Kendra Joseph prosecuted both cases. Harris was defended by Philip Adams, while Walker was defended by Edward Mouton. Trials for both defendants had been set to begin September 23.

* A teen involved in a deadly shooting spree outside a southeast Shreveport movie theater in 2021 will serve more than a century in prison.

Ikerryunt’a Vernell Stewart, 20, who pleaded guilty May 6 to manslaughter and eight counts of attempted second-degree murder, was sentenced September 18 by District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. Stewart must serve 30 years at hard labor for manslaughter and 10 years at hard labor for each of the eight counts of attempted second-degree murder, all terms to be served consecutive to each other for a total of 110 years at hard labor.

Stewart, who was 17 at the time, September 4, 2021, fired 21 rounds from an AK-47 style rifle into the intersection at Youree and East Bert Kouns after a separate shooting at the Tinseltown movie theater just minutes before. Two juveniles charged in the case also fired weapons into the intersection. This resulted in the death of 13-year-old Kel’vonte Daigre and injury to two others. It also endangered the lives of six others present at the time.

Police recovered approximately 50 rounds fired by Stewart and his co-defendants. He was apprehended after a police chase. A search of his phone showed multiple messages sent while he was hiding from the police after the car chase and foot pursuit, in which he admitted to the shootout.

Stewart was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and William J. Edwards. He was defended by Richard T. Dale Woolbert.

The case was docket Nos. 401392 and 401393.

* A Shreveport man who attempted to run over a Shreveport Police officer and then fled to avoid arrest was found guilty September 11.

Devin Rashard Ned, 24, was found guilty by the six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court after deliberations lasting approximately two hours. The charges were attempted manslaughter of a police officer and aggravated flight from an officer.

Jurors heard seven witnesses testify that a homeowner called 911 to report that Ned prowled around her residence at 2:30 a.m. August 26, 2021, and that when police arrived, he fled in an automobile. After a high-speed chase through a west-central Shreveport residential neighborhood, reaching speeds of over 80 mph, Ned drove into a dead end on Missouri Avenue and reversed his car, striking a uniformed police officer. Fearing for his life, the officer discharged his weapon at the car, the bullet striking Ned in a shoulder. Ned then crashed the vehicle into a privacy fence and was apprehended. The homeowner whose fence was damaged testified that Ned intentionally struck the officer. Inside Ned’s vehicle, which was found to have been stolen, officers recovered a firearm with an extended magazine.

Ned faces up to 20 years for the attempted manslaughter conviction and up to five years at hard labor for the aggravated flight from an officer conviction.

Ned was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Stephen Folk-Cruthird. He was defended by Katie Ferguson and Evan McMichael.

The case was docket No. 384942.

* A Bossier City man who broke down the door of a woman who had been issued a protective order against him was found guilty of home invasion September 12. Roderick Carnell Jeter was unanimously found guilty by a seven-woman, five-man jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court after deliberating one hour.

The jury heard from four witnesses and determined that on April 10, 2023, Jeter kicked in the door of the Pecan Street apartment of his victim and attacked her. The woman, who had a protective order against Jeter, called 911 to report the break-in and assault. When police arrived, Jeter was still on the scene, pretending to repair the door. The manager of the apartment complex testified she saw the injuries to the victim’s face.

Jeter faces at least one and up to 30 years in prison at hard labor or the home invasion conviction. For violation of the protective order, he must serve up to six months in the parish jail.

Assistant District Attorneys Glenn Cortella and Jason Waltman prosecuted Jeter, who was defended by Katie Ferguson and Madison Crusan.

The case was docket No. 394802.

* A Texas woman who refused to return a car loaned to her by a coworker was found guilty of theft of a motor vehicle September 13.

Roneisha Shacole Hogan, 27, of Irving, was found guilty of the theft after 40 minutes of deliberation by the four-man, two-woman jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court. Judge Hathaway sentenced Hogan to five years at hard labor, suspended, and three years active supervised probation with 240 hours of community service.

Prosecutors called three witnesses to prove that a co-worker of Hogan loaned her the car, which she promised to return in three days. After waiting a week for Hogan to return the vehicle, the coworker reported the car stolen. Five months later, Hogan was apprehended in Dallas, Texas, with the car.

Assistant District Attorneys Stephen Folk-Cruthirds and Jason Waltman prosecuted Hogan, who was defended by Katie Ferguson and Evan McMichael.

The case was docket No. 398271.

* A Shreveport man on trial for molesting his girlfriend’s daughter pleaded guilty September 10, just as the first witness was questioned by prosecutors.

Tommy Lorenzo Simmons, 36, decided to plead guilty rather than place his fate in the hands of the nine-woman, three-man jury empaneled before District Judge Ramona Emanuel. He admitted to one count of molestation of a juvenile, based on sexual assaults on his girlfriend’s daughter he was helping raise, from January 2019 to October 2020.

Judge Emanuel immediately sentenced Simmons to 25 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Simmons also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. In addition, the court ordered a protective order in favor of Simmons’ victim.

Simmons was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Fernando Grider Jr. He was defended by Royal Alexander and Dave Knadler.

The case was docket No. 379257.

* A Shreveport man who killed a neighbor in a dispute over a phone charger must serve he rest of his life in prison, a Caddo District judge ordered September 4.

District Judge Chris Victory, who presided over the trial of Joshua Parks that ended August 21 with his conviction for the slaying of Edward Lattin, 34, imposed the state-mandated life sentence. The shooting occurred December 18, 2020.

Victim Lattin was at his residence in the 2900 block of DeSoto Street with his girlfriend, his girlfriend’s best friend and the girlfriend’s mother when he went next door to Parks’ residence to get a phone charger. There, Lattin argued with Parks’ girlfriend over the charger. Lattin returned home and told his girlfriend about the argument, then went outside where the argument between Lattin and the female neighbor continued. Parks, 30, came outside, stood behind his girlfriend and started to argue with Lattin.

Lattin and Parks were about to escalate the argument to a physical altercation when Parks pulled out a .380 caliber handgun and shot at Lattin as he turned to run away. After Parks fired the weapon, Lattin fell face-forward to the ground. Parks then walked over to Lattin and shot him several more times, including the back of the head. Lattin was shot a total of eight times. Parks then fled with the handgun. When he surrendered at Caddo Correctional Center later, his bloody shoes held Lattin’s DNA.

Parks’ sentence must be served at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Parks was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kodie K. Smith and Bill Edwards. He was defended by Sean Landry.

The case was docket No. 380303.

* The Caddo Parish Grand Jury handed up seven true bills in its session that ended September 19.

Three of the indictments were in connection with local murders, while one was issued for obstruction of justice. One man was the subject of two separate indictments, for hit-and-run driving and for second-offense driving while intoxicated. The seventh true bill was issued under seal in regard to a first-degree rape.

Malcolm Jamal Morris, 33, and Deonza Dewayne McClinton Sr., 31, both of Shreveport, were separately indicted for second-degree murder in connection with the June 4 slaying of Billy Ray Doyle, 41. Doyle, of Keithville, was outside a gas station in the 4300 block of Linwood Avenue when he was struck by gunfire. He died at the scene.

Ledonald Tyeska Sanders, 40, of Haughton, was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Breyone Grimes, 37, on June 10. Mr. Grimes was shot while sitting in his car at a gas station at Hollywood and Jewella avenues.

Shanecia Sade-Lynette Bradley, 20, stands charged with obstruction of justice on allegations that on July 24, she tampered with evidence in an unspecified criminal investigation.

Donnie Ray Harris, 68, of Shreveport, was indicted twice, for hit-and-run driving and for second-offense DWI, a misdemeanor. The felony charge is in connection with an incident that occurred July 22, while the DWI charge stems from an event the following day.

John Lee Taylor, 40, of Shreveport, was charged with first-degree rape in connection with an incident that occurred on or before May 9, 2024, when he was booked into Caddo Correctional Center. Due to the nature of the charges against him, his indictment was issued under seal, with no further details available.

The month of September ended with the sad news of the passing of retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeff Victory. Justice Victory and I, both fellow C.E. Byrd High School alums, served as First Judicial District Court judges and on the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal together prior to his election to the Louisiana Supreme Court, where he served from 1995 through 2014. My condolences to his wife Dr. Nancy Victory, his children – among them First Judicial District Court Judge Chris Victory – and his beloved extended Broadmoor Baptist Church family.