Last week, Jaris Howard of 1103 Maginnis St. Donaldsonville, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Howard was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Leila Braswell, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Keyojuan Turner. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors in connection with the 2014 shooting death of Jaris Howard’s then wife, 27 year-old Shella “Shay” Thomas Howard, also of Donaldsonville. 

          On July 21, 2014, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a Donaldsonville residence in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located Shella “Shay” Thomas Howard who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her body. Shella was pronounced deceased on scene. Detectives learned that Jaris Howard, Shella, and their minor child were in the residence when Jaris shot Shella multiple times while she was getting dressed in the bathroom area of the residence. Following the shooting, Jaris traveled to a relative’s residence with the child. Jaris told relatives that he had shot Shella and she was dead. Deputies located Howard at his mother’s residence and transported him to the Ascension Parish Jail where he was interviewed. While traveling to the jail, Howard told deputies that he had killed his wife. Howard was subsequently booked accordingly. 

          Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Jaris Howard was sentenced to 25 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. The said sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.