This afternoon, an Ascension Parish Jury found 42-year-old Kalvin Forcell of 42421 Hwy 30 Lot 21 Gonzales, LA, guilty of the following charges: 

• First Degree Murder (2 counts)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Attempted Simple Burglary of a Vehicle
• Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle
• Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling 

Forcell was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Adam Koenig and Lana Chaney. Presiding over this matter is the Honorable Judge John Smith. This guilty verdict comes following the 2024 shooting deaths of 42-year-old Christina Artus, girlfriend of Forcell, and 1 year old Kaylee Forcell, daughter of Artus and Forcell 

On January 14, 2024, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a 911 call from an unknown female stating that someone just shot her baby. A second 911 call was received from a neighbor who advised gunshots were heard coming from the neighboring residence. This caller further advised that a male subject was seen leaving the area in a gray sedan. Upon arrival, deputies located a female victim identified as Christina Artus lying in the doorway with gunshot wounds to the head. Directly behind Christina was an infant child identified as Kaylee Forcell seated in her baby walker with a gunshot wound to the head. Both were pronounced deceased on scene. 

Detectives learned that Artus was working in the yard outside of her residence when gunshots were fired. Witnesses observed Artus run into the residence and began screaming. Witnesses observed a male subject identified as Kalvin Forcell holding a firearm and firing additional shots in the direction of Christina who was inside the doorway of the residence. Forcell then fled the scene. Forcell traveled to the area of Airline Hwy in Sorrento where he pulled into a Dollar General parking lot. Forcell was observed pulling on the door handle of a vehicle in the parking lot attempting to gain entry. Forcell was observed on video surveillance walking behind the Dollar General where detectives later learned he had discarded Artus’ cell phone. Forcell proceeded to walk to a nearby residence where he attempted to gain entry into a second parked vehicle, however, was again unsuccessful. Forcell ultimately gained entry into a vehicle parked near another residence and was observed by the vehicle owner. Forcell attempted to flee and at some point, entered a residence without authorization where he was ultimately detained at gunpoint until deputies arrived. A criminal history check revealed that Forcell had a prior felony conviction for an unrelated weapons charge. Forcell was arrested and transported to the Ascension Parish Jail where he was booked accordingly. 

Upon the jury returning a guilty verdict in this matter, sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Sentencing is tentatively set for December 7, 2026. Forcell faces two mandatory life sentences on the First-Degree Murder charges alone.