JENNINGS — A district judge on Monday sentenced a Welsh teen found guilty of manslaughter in the 2015 shooting death of a Jennings teenager to 20 years in prison.
Kvyonte Eaglin, 18, who had been facing a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Jawon Lennette, 17, during a fight at a private back-to -school party in Jennings, was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter by a jury in November.
In an emotional victim impact statement delivered by Lennette’s mother, Andrea Gary described her pain at the loss of her only son.
“As soon as I heard those words my life went to darkness,” she said, describing the moment she learned her son had been shot. “It was like a dream ... . My life ended.”
She said Jawon was excited about being accepted into LSU and was preparing to start his first semester majoring in petroleum engineering when his life was cut short.
“He didn’t do anything,” she said. “He was just a kid.”
She pleaded with Eaglin, asking why he just couldn’t have given her son a black-eye and accused him of “hiding behind a gun” and not telling the truth about what happened the night of the shooting.
“All I want is justice from the state,” she said. “You will have to pay for what you’ve done.”
Gary’s statement was followed by an outburst of applause from the courtroom.
Eaglin’s attorney Alfred Boustany submitted four letters, including one from Eaglin’s former principal Pat Deshotel to the court as part of his attempt to shorten the defendant’s sentence.
Several former teachers and Eaglin’s former football coach were also called to the stand as character witnesses for the defense.
Kade Kelley, an English/French teacher at Welsh High school, described Eaglin as a “good kid, who was always respectful and willing to help others.”
“I’ve known him since fourth grade and I have never known him to be violent,” she said. “I was shocked when I heard the news.”
She said Eaglin had his life ahead of him and if given another chance would make things right.
Jamie Festervand, an English teacher at Welsh High School, said Eaglin was “serious about school” and she never had an issue with him in her class. She said he showed no bitterness or anger when they talked and that they often talked on tough subjects including race and struggles the students had.
“I’ve never known him to be violent,” she said. “He’s a very good kid.”
Welsh High School librarian and fine arts teacher Amy Stanford said Eaglin was sometimes mischievous, but never malicious.
“Kvyonte was never one to look for trouble ... not on the field or off of it,” Stanford said, adding that shooting someone was “totally out of his character.”
John Richardson, head football coach and athletic director at Welsh High School, said Eaglin had a bright future ahead of him. He said he was a good student and a good athlete who did not want to call attention to himself. He said he had a good heart and was always helping other athletes to do better.
“He was a good kid,” Richardson said. “I was really surprised when the news came out. I’d never believe it in a million years.”
Eaglin’s mother, Katie, of Welsh said she was heartbroken to think that her oldest son could be guilty of killing someone. He has never been in trouble until this, she said.
“A mother knows their child from good and bad,” she said. “That’s my child and he doesn’t deserve to be here. Everybody at that party was doing something they weren’t suppose to be doing.”
She said even being in jail, Eaglin has kept a positive mind-set and worked to continue his education. He completed high school while incarcerated with a 3.4 grade-point average.
Yvette Derouen, secretary at the Thornwell Warehouse where Eaglin worked part-time, described him as loving and gentle, saying he did whatever he was asked to do.
Eaglin offered no words to the victim’s family and friends.
In sentencing, Judge Steve Gunnell said Eaglin was a good student with no criminal history, who played football and ran track and worked at the Thornwell Warehouse but was someone who “brought a gun to a fist fight.”
Boustany, who argued during the trial that Eaglin acted in self-defense after Lennette came after him with his fists, on Monday described the shooting as an accident, saying no one planned or thought the shooting out.
Boustany asked the court to reconsider Eaglin’s sentence saying it was too excessive, arguing Eaglin’s age and lack of criminal history as mitigating factors.
Prosecutor Bennett Lapoint contends Eaglin had specific intent to harm Lennette after he retrieved a gun from his vehicle and fired it directly at the victim at close range.
Gunnell denied the motion to reconsider saying testimony during the trial showed Eaglin went out to get the gun, but was stopped and later went back to get the gun.
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