UPDATED: Chandler found guilty of murder in April 2013 shooting

FRANKLIN — A jury found Charles Chandler II guilty Thursday of second-degree murder in the April 2013 shooting death of Wade Blackburn Jr. at the Bayou Vista home where Blackburn was staying.
Just after 6 p.m. Thursday, the jury returned a guilty verdict on the charges of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon against Chandler, 23, of Bayou Vista, in 16th Judicial District Court at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin.
The jury deliberated about 80 minutes before returning the verdict.
The trial began Wednesday morning. Prosecutors called multiple witnesses Wednesday and Thursday who said they were present at or near 1220 Columbus Ave. in Bayou Vista where Blackburn, 18, of Bayou Vista, was shot and killed April 29, 2013. Witnesses described a “tussle” that took place at the residence after Chandler arrived with a semi-automatic handgun looking for Blackburn.
Upon Blackburn coming out of the house to see Chandler, Chandler pointed the gun in Blackburn’s face, witnesses testified. At some point during the encounter, a struggle for the gun ensued at which time two or three shots were fired, witnesses said.
Blackburn was hit by one shot in the abdomen, which proved fatal. Dr. Cynthia Gardner, a forensic pathologist, testified Wednesday that the gun was touching Blackburn’s abdomen when the shot hit him, causing massive internal bleeding.
Assistant District Attorney Anthony Saleme, who prosecuted the case, said witness statements indicated that Chandler went to the Columbus Avenue residence intending to kill or inflict great bodily harm — the legal language that defines murder — to Blackburn and produced a gun without any provocation.
Though the defense didn’t call any witnesses Thursday, Chandler’s attorney, Richard Spears, said in his closing arguments that none of the witnesses actually saw Chandler pull the trigger on the gun, and most witnesses stated both Chandler’s and Blackburn’s hands were on the gun during the struggle, he said.
Chandler chose not to testify during the trial.
Spears also asked why a gunshot residue swab was done on Blackburn’s hands but detectives never performed the actual gunshot residue test to determine if Blackburn had shot a gun.
Prosecution witnesses testified that they didn’t see a weapon on Blackburn or anywhere in his vicinity during the incident.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Sennet Wiggins, who helped investigate the shooting, said detectives located no evidence to indicate Blackburn had a gun during the incident.
Detectives thoroughly searched 1220 Columbus Ave., where Blackburn had been the night of the shooting, for a gun, but didn’t find one, Saleme said. Therefore, the test wasn’t necessary, he said.
Spears said if Chandler had gone to the residence intending to kill Blackburn, he could have done so right away, but didn’t.
Saleme said evidence showed that Chandler “racked” the gun back in order to set the firing pin, which ejects a round from the chamber of the gun, if one was already in the chamber, and puts a new round into the chamber.
The fact that Chandler “racked” the gun shows that Chandler wanted to make sure a round was in the chamber and that he did indeed go to 1220 Columbus Ave. intending to fire the gun, Saleme said.
Spears said that Chandler admitted he brought the gun to the scene of the shooting. Chandler would have pleaded guilty to felony possession of firearm by a convicted felon if he was allowed to plead to that charge without also pleading guilty to second degree murder. Chandler was convicted of simple burglary in 2009.
The night of the shooting, witnesses said Chandler visited Columbus Avenue twice looking for Blackburn.
Witness Kyle Riggins, who was across the street at 1225 Columbus Ave. when the shooting occurred, testified he spoke to Chandler the first time Chandler came to 1220 Columbus Ave. looking for Blackburn.
According to an affidavit, the meeting between Riggins and Chandler took place at about 11 p.m. that night.
Riggins said he didn’t know where Blackburn was and tried to contact Blackburn. Chandler accused Riggins of trying to hide Blackburn, Riggins said.
When Chandler couldn’t locate Blackburn, he left the residence and returned about 30 to 45 minutes later, which was when the shooting occurred, Riggins said.
When Chandler returned to 1220 Columbus Ave., Tammy James, who was living at the residence on April 29, 2013, with her children, said she was outside putting clothes in the washing machine.
Chandler asked for Blackburn, who was inside the home, James said. She eventually called for Blackburn who came outside to see Chandler, James said.
James went back inside the residence, and several minutes later, she heard the two arguing intensely, she said. Therefore, James came back out to see what was happening.
James saw Chandler pointing a gun at Blackburn. Chandler grabbed Blackburn by his afro, at which point the struggle for the gun occurred, she said.
The gun went off three times during the struggle with one shot grazing James’ daughter, Amber James, in the left leg, Tammy James said. Amber James was 12 at the time of the shooting. Another shot grazed Tammy James’ stomach, and then the third shot hit Blackburn, Tammy James said.
Several witnesses said they heard Chandler say “I’m going to catch a murder charge” the night of the shooting.
Witnesses, including Tammy James, said Chandler came to the residence “in a rage.” Witnesses saw Chandler leave 1220 Columbus Ave. in a Cadillac.
Detectives located a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun at Chandler’s home on Sun Road in Bayou Vista that was determined to have fired a shell casing located at the scene of the shooting and was consistent with the bullet found in Blackburn’s body, Saleme said.
Chandler was arrested within hours after the shooting when detectives stopped a truck at Saturn Road and Venus Street in Bayou Vista. Chandler was a passenger in the vehicle.
According to an affidavit, Chandler told witnesses that “Blackburn had screwed him over many times,” and Blackburn had lied to Chandler.
The affidavit also stated, on the date of the shooting, that Chandler and Blackburn had gotten into an altercation at Cash Magic Casino with both eventually leaving the casino. Chandler had been “feuding” with Blackburn for about a week before the shooting for unknown specific reasons, the affidavit said.
Tammy James said her children were friends with Blackburn for many years. When Chandler pointed the gun at Blackburn, Blackburn asked Chandler if he was going to shoot Blackburn in front of Tammy James and her children, Tammy James said.
She remembered Blackburn as “very respectable,” she said.
“He was just like my kid,” Tammy James said.
Chandler was originally charged with first degree murder, but a grand jury indicted him on the charge of second degree murder.
Judge Anthony Thibodeaux set Chandler’s sentencing date for May 28. The only possible sentence for a second degree murder conviction is life in prison without the possibility of parole, Saleme said.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com