Calling it "one of the most tragic and senseless murders New Orleans has seen in many years," New Orleans District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro today announced that three teenagers booked in the shooting death of a Mid-City woman have been indicted on first degree murder charges.
"An Orleans Parish special grand jury late Wednesday returned the first-degree murder charges against 17-year-old Emanuel Pipkins, 18-year-old Byrielle Hebert and 16-year-old Alvin Robinson," Cannizzaro said.
The three are accused of fatally shooting 63-year-old Zelda Townsend when she confronted them breaking in to her car in the 2700 block of Cleveland St. on May 8.
The D.A.'s office said they are not seeking the death penalty, If convicted, each defendant would face life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, because of their ages at the time of offense, Pipkins and Robinson, if convicted, each would be entitled to a sentencing hearing where the trial court would sentence them to life without parole or to life with parole eligibility after 25 years.
Cannizzaro said Townsend's murder galvanized efforts to take seriously a disturbing trend of rosing juvenile crime.
"The killing of Miss Townsend drew widespread condemnation through out New Orleans," said Cannizzaro, "forcing some reticent city leaders finally to acknowledge the extent of our juvenile crime problem."
