DOUBLE-HOMICIDE CONVICTION

Yesterday, after two hours of deliberation, a St. Landry Parish jury convicted Sanplice Simien, 48, of the first-degree murder of Michael Thomas and Ladarious Keller.
Late Thursday afternoon, the jury also found Simien guilty of three counts of attempted first-degree murder of Emrick Simon, Ladarious Leblanc and Vondrick Jimmerson. Back in early October of 2020 the five young victims were sitting in a parked truck on Cook Street in Morrow, Louisiana, when Simien approached the truck from the driver’s side and opened fire with handguns in each hand.
District Attorney Chad Pitre commented, “we are grateful the jury brought justice and some peace to these families for these violent killings.” Chief felony prosecutor, Alisa Gothreaux represented the state during the trial. Louisiana law mandates a life sentence for first-degree murder. Simien will be sentenced to no less than life on each count of first-degree murder and from ten to fifty years on each count of attempted first-degree murder. Sentencing is set for May 8, 2025.