Shreveport Man Pleads Guilty to 2021 Tinseltown Shooting Spree

A teen involved in a deadly shooting spree outside a southeast Shreveport movie theater pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court Monday, May 6, 2024, just as his trial was about to begin.

Ikerryunt’a Vernell Stewart, now 20, faced one count of second-degree murder, eight counts of attempted second-degree murder and four counts of aggravated property damage. He pleaded guilty before District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. to manslaughter and eight counts of attempted second-degree murder, with sentencing to the discretion of the court.

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.

The family of victim Kel’vonte Daigre agreed to the plea. Sentencing is set for August 7, 2024. Stewart faces up to 440 years at hard labor for the crimes.

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.