Louisiana news briefs

Man wanted in Christmas Eve killing surrenders
PRAIRIEVILLE (AP) — Ascension Parish deputies say a man sought in a fatal shooting in the early morning hours on Christmas Eve turned himself in
Chief Deputy Tony Bacala said 23-yeara-old Kevin Sheppard, of Prairieville, was booked on counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and several other charges.
Sheppard surrendered Wednesday around 10 a.m.
Bacala says it’s believed Sheppard and four other men were in Prairieville to buy narcotics, about 2 a.m. Wednesday.
He says an argument broke out and Sheppard, who was not directly involved in the argument, allegedly pulled out a handgun and began firing.
One man, 22-year-old Lewis Sanchez, Denham Springs, was killed, and 18-year-old Joshua Perez, of Gonzales, was seriously wounded.

Appeals court finds 30 years too much in abuse conviction
LAKE CHARLES (AP) — Thirty years in prison is too much for a first conviction for child abuse, the state 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has ruled.
The 2-1 ruling ordered Judge Clayton Davis to re-sentence Jamie Brooks Day, 32, of Lake Charles. She was convicted a year ago of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile — her stepson.
Prosecutors said they will appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
The boy was 9 years old and weighed 38 pounds when he was brought to a hospital in 2010. He testified that — among other things — Day burned him with a blow-dryer and with a sock full of rice, let him eat only grits, ramen noodles and rice, and made him eat his own feces. He also testified that she hung him upside down by his ankles; Saran-wrapped him to his bed; hit him in the face with a dustpan and threw a screwdriver at him.
The defense argued that the boy refused to eat and injured himself, and that previous abuse left him troubled when his father, Murry Day, married Jamie Brooks Day.
The boy’s behavior was “difficult” and “outrageous,” Judge John Saunders wrote for the majority. Much of the harm that was inflicted upon the child was “unintentional,” resulting from his refusal to eat and some of his bruises were likely self-inflicted, he wrote.
Judge Jimmie Peters joined with Saunders; Judge James Genovese dissented.

Alexandria artist accused
of shooting, killing son-in-law
ALEXANDRIA (AP) — An Alexandria artist is accused of shooting and killing his son-in-law.
Tony Forrest, 64, was booked with second-degree murder in the death of 45-year-old Tommy Thompson, of Alexandria, who was shot at Forrest’s home. If he is indicted and convicted on the charge, he would face an automatic life sentence.
He remained in jail Thursday, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office website indicated.
The shooting about 10 a.m. Wednesday stemmed from an argument the previous evening, police spokesman Cedric Green said in a news release. He said police were not called until after the shooting.
Thompson was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
It was not clear whether Forrest, owner of Tony Forrest Fine Art, had an attorney.
Forrest owns Tony Forrest Fine Art.
Forrest is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, and left a construction career in 2006 to become a full-time artist, according to his website. He says he was commissioned to paint a Greensboro bicentennial portrait of Andrew Jackson that hangs in the Guilford County courthouse.

Woman arrested, accused
of sleeping with 16-year-old
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies have arrested an East Baton Rouge woman after investigators said she had sex with a 16-year-old boy while she was drunk.
Deputies booked 34-year-old Delisha Barg with carnal knowledge of a juvenile after her arrest Monday.
Investigators said the boy’s parent contacted them about the alleged incident, which happened Dec. 20.
The boy told detectives the woman was an acquaintance of his mother’s whom he had walked home. The teenager says the woman came onto him, asked her to take her to her room, where he helped her get undressed. He says she kissed him and they later had sex.
Barg wouldn’t answer questions but she told detectives she didn’t remember the boy even being at her house.

Christmas Eve shooting
kills 1 at Louisiana mall
GRETNA (AP) — A man who was shopping at a suburban New Orleans mall on Christmas Eve was shot to death at close range and a suspect was in custody, police said.
The incident happened around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, less than two hours before the Oakwood Center mall in Gretna was scheduled to close for the holiday, said Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand.
The victim had just purchased something from Foot Locker and had turned from the cash register when a man walked within 3 or 4 feet of him and began shooting, Normand said. No one else was injured.
“Obviously, based on witness accounts, he walked in with purpose of shooting this particular individual,” Normand said when asked if the person was targeted.
At least three shots were fired and the man was pronounced dead on the scene, he said.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Col. John N. Fortunato said in a statement Wednesday night that the incident was captured on surveillance video and that the victim had been identified as 24-year-old James Vaughn of Harvey.
The suspect is a 25-year-old man, according to Fortunato’s statement. The Associated Press is not naming him because he has not formally been charged.

Mother of dead toddler arrested
MONROE (AP) — The mother of a toddler who died at University Health Conway has been arrested on charges of second-degree murder and cruelty to a juvenile.
Audrey Burks is being held on a $600,000 bond at the Ouachita Correctional Center. It was unknown if she has an attorney.
Authorities say 2-year-old Adrianna Burks died at Conway on Tuesday. She was rushed into the emergency room unresponsive, and doctors were unable to revive her.
During an investigation, police learned the child has a twin sister, who’s being treated at LSUMC-Shreveport for three lacerations to her liver, kidney and intestinal damage. She’s listed in critical but stable condition.
An autopsy shows Adrianna Burks died of blunt force trauma.