On July 21, 2026, at the conclusion of a bench trial after waiving rights to a jury trial, Judge Steven Tureau found 30-year-old Brannon Ellis of 5206 Seneca Dr. Darrow, LA, guilty of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Aggravated Flight from an Officer and Unlawful Handling of Machine Guns. Ellis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Adam Koenig and Lana Chaney.
On January 19, 2023, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Geismar business in reference to a shooting. The 911 caller informed dispatchers that subjects inside of a small sedan were shooting at a male subject running across the parking lot. Deputies were able to locate the suspect vehicle fleeing the area and engaged in a pursuit. Shortly after, the suspect vehicle crashed, and two male subjects fled on foot. While fleeing, one subject discarded a firearm and a mask, and the second subject attempted to discard a rifle. Both subjects were captured and identified as Brannon Ellis and 24-year-old A’Marius Williams of Sorrento. The victim in this matter was not struck by gunfire. One of the weapons recovered was determined to be converted to a fully automatic weapon using a machine gun conversion device. While canvassing the scene, detectives recovered evidence and video confirming that Ellis and Williams were in fact directly involved with the shooting. Both subjects were booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.
Upon being found guilty, sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
On Monday, Brannon Ellis appeared before the Honorable Ad-Hoc Judge John LeBlanc for sentencing. Ellis was sentenced to 50 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Based on Ellis’ extensive criminal history, the District Attorney’s Office intends to file a habitual offender bill in this matter.