Shreveport Man Pleads Guilty To Attempted First Degree Murder

A Shreveport man who was arrested two years ago will now face sentencing for attempted first degree murder after he pleaded guilty to trying to kill a man during an armed robbery.

John Prime with the Caddo DA's office says that just as the trial of 23-year-old Ladarius Desmond Williams was beginning, the defendant admitted to the crime.

He said he tried to kill Eddie George during an attempted armed robbery at the Fil-a-Sac convenience store in the 300 block of Pierre Avenue in Allendale on June 3, 2014. As George was leaving the store and about to enter his vehicle, Williams attacked him from behind, striking him in the head with a pistol and demanding the victim's money. Williams chased George around the parking lot, shooting at him multiple times. In all, George suffered eight gunshot wounds.

A 12-person jury, with one alternate, had been selected to hear the case but opening statements had not yet begun when Williams pleaded guilty.

Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. set a sentencing date for Williams for Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. He faces up to 50 years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Prosecutors were assistant district attorneys Holly McGinness and Ross Owen. Williams' defense team was Michael Enright and Michelle AndrePont, both public defenders.