SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

Trio Found Guilty in Connection with 2022 Deadly Donaldsonville Shooting

Posted on by Claire Falgoust

          On Friday evening, an Ascension Parish Jury found three defendants guilty of 2nd Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, and Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property in connection with a 2022 shooting which claimed the life of 37-year-old Cedric Mumphrey of Donaldsonville. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Philip Prescott and Brant Mayer. Presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets. The following individuals were convicted: 

  1. Donovan Starks, 2103 S Allen Ave. Gonzales, LA, age 24 
  1. Jatyrin Powe, 1010 St. Vincent St. Donaldsonville, LA, age 20 
  1. Johntez Ezeff, 812 Houmas St. Donaldsonville, LA, age 24 

          On May 30, 2022, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on W 2nd Street Donaldsonville in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located Cedric Mumphrey lying on the driveway of his residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Mumphrey was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Deputies secured the scene and detectives responded. 

        Detectives located approximately 45 spent shell casings on the scene. Mumphrey’s residence which was occupied by an adult female and three minor children was struck by numerous rounds of gunfire. Detectives were able to secure video surveillance footage captured from a neighboring residence which showed Mumphrey and another male subject standing in the driveway talking. A short while later, three male subjects wearing dark clothing and masks approach the driveway, produce handguns, and a barrage of gunfire occurred. The three male subjects then fled the area. With the assistance of area citizens, detectives were able to identify the shooters as Donovan Starks, Jatyrin Powe, and Johntez Ezeff. Warrants of arrest were issued for these suspects who were ultimately apprehended and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail where they remain awaiting sentencing.

          Upon the jury returning a guilty verdict in this matter, sentencing was deferred to a later date. Starks, Powe, and Ezeff are tentatively set to appear on May 12, 2025, before Judge Verdigets for sentencing. The charge of 2nd Degree Murder alone carries a mandatory life sentence.