SHREVEPORT, La — A teen involved in a deadly shooting spree outside a southeast Shreveport movie theater in 2021 must serve more than a century in prison, a local judge has decreed.
Ikerryunt’a Vernell Stewart, 20, who pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court May 6, 2024, to manslaughter and eight counts of attempted second-degree murder, was sentenced Wednesday, September 18, 2024, by District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. Stewart must serve 30 years at hard labor for manslaughter and 10 years at hard labor for each of the eight counts of attempted second-degree murder, all terms to be served consecutive to each other for a total of 110 years at hard labor.
Stewart, who was 17 at the time, September 4, 2021, fired 21 rounds from an AK-47 style rifle into the intersection at Youree and East Bert Kouns after a separate shooting at the Tinseltown movie theater just minutes before. Two other juveniles charged in the case also fired weapons into the intersection. This resulted in the death of 13-year-old Kel’vonte Daigre and injury to two others. It also endangered the lives of six others present at the time.
Police recovered approximately 50 rounds fired by Stewart and his co-defendants. He was apprehended after a police chase. A search of his phone showed multiple messages sent while he was hiding from the police after the car chase and foot pursuit, in which he admitted to the shootout.
Stewart was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and William J. Edwards. He was defended by Richard T. Dale Woolbert.
The case was docket Nos. 401392 and 401393.
