SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

Convent Man to Serve Life in Prison in Connection with 2021 Deadly Shooting

          On June 26, 2025, a St. James Parish jury found 36-year-old Carlos Washington of 6250 Convent Station Lane Convent, LA. guilty as charged of 2nd Degree Murder, Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and 2nd Degree Cruelty to a Juvenile. Washington was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Adam Koenig and Lana Chaney. Presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge John Smith. 

          On January 7, 2021, St. James Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a shooting at a Convent residence. Upon arrival, deputies learned that Carlos Washington had shot two individuals inside the residence and was barricaded inside with his 6-year-old son. While deputies were attempting to gain entry into the residence, Washington fired a single shot from his weapon, forcing deputies to retreat and engage in a stand-off. During the course of negotiations, Washington exited the residence with his son while still armed with a handgun. Deputies were able to safely secure the child and take Washington into custody. Upon making entry into the residence, deputies located Washington’s mother, Anita Jacobs, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. A second individual who was identified as Washington’s stepfather was found suffering from a non-lethal gunshot wound. He was treated at an area hospital and released. A criminal history check indicated that Washington had a prior felony conviction for illegal narcotics possession. Washington was subsequently booked into the St. James Parish Jail. 

          Upon the jury returning a guilty verdict in this matter, sentencing was deferred to a later date. 

          On October 27, 2025, Carlos Washington appeared before Judge Smith for sentencing. Sentencing for each charge is as follows: 

  • 2nd Degree Murder – Life in prison without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence
  • Attempted 2nd Degree Murder – 50 years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence 
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon- 20 years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence 
  • 2nd Degree Cruelty to a Juvenile – 40 years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence   

          It was further ordered that all said sentences are to run concurrent with one another.