Suspects plead to lesser charges in 2013 shooting

Two men involved in an October 2013 shooting in Morgan City, who were also both shot themselves, entered guilty pleas to lesser charges than they originally faced.
Eric Charles, 24, of Morgan City, and Donald Ray Brown Jr., 31, of Franklin, both pleaded guilty Monday in 16th Judicial District Court, Assistant District Attorney Anthony Saleme said.
Charles, originally charged with attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated second-degree battery. Charles was sentenced to 10 years in jail, Saleme said.
Brown, originally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone, pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brown has not yet been sentenced, Saleme said.
Prosecutors agreed to accept the plea deal based on evidence they had available, Saleme said.
On Sept. 24, 2014, another suspect in the shooting, Barron Kenner, 42, of Morgan City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated second degree battery. Kenner was initially charged with attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of firearm in a firearm-free zone.
On Oct. 21, 2013, just after 10 a.m., Morgan City Police received several complaints of a shooting in the area of Federal Avenue and Orange Street in Morgan City, according to an affidavit.
Detectives located a vehicle seen leaving the area and found Brown inside.
Brown’s wife told police the couple was separated but that she let him visit her sometimes, the affidavit said. That morning, Brown had come over to her home to shower and then left.
Shortly after Brown left her home, he called her saying he had been shot and needed her to get him.
Brown told police that he was at his wife’s home on Apple Street when suspect, Barron Kenner, came to the home in a SUV, the affidavit said. Brown said that three black men and a female driver were in the vehicle.
Brown said he had known Kenner a long time, and he and Kenner had never had any problems in the past, the affidavit stated. However, this time, Kenner accused Brown of “robbing his people,” the affidavit said.
Brown said Kenner must have mistaken Brown for someone else, the affidavit stated. Brown said his wife overheard the discussion and told the two men to take their issues somewhere else.
Brown said Kenner stated that he would be back, at which time Brown left the home and walked to Johnny’s Store on Federal Avenue, where he was again confronted by the same vehicle and occupants.
This time, Brown said two men got out of the vehicle pointing guns in Brown’s direction.
One of the men was Kenner, and the other was a man who police later identified as Charles, according to the affidavit.
Brown said he began to flee on foot and was shot in the process, the affidavit stated. Brown told police he was sure that Kenner shot him.
Brown said he didn’t have a weapon on him.
Witnesses said that Brown ran behind an abandoned house on Garber Street holding a handgun, the affidavit stated. Detectives located the firearm Brown allegedly had under a trailer and identified it as a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Police also learned that a second victim in the shooting, Charles, was taken to Teche Regional Medical Center.
Charles told police he went to Johnny’s Store, and upon exiting a vehicle, he heard at least three shots and began to run.
He didn’t know who shot him but said it was a black male on Orange Street.
Police found two .45-caliber casings and four .40-caliber casings on Orange Street and glass from a vehicle window next to the .40-caliber casings.
Detectives located a vehicle with shattered glass and a bullet consistent with what was found at the crime scene.
The driver of the vehicle said she and Kenner picked up Charles and traveled to Orange Street. Charles exited the vehicle at which time numerous shots were fired. The driver said Charles got back into the vehicle and they left the area and eventually took Charles to the hospital, the affidavit said.
Based on the evidence police gathered, they issued warrants for the arrest of Kenner, Charles and Brown. The shooting occurred less than 1,000 feet from Jacquet Homes and Maitland Elementary, both firearm-free zones.

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