Shreveport Teen To Be Tried As An Adult In Caddo Court

A Shreveport teen will be tried in Caddo District Court in connection with an attempted second-degree murder and attempted armed robbery that occurred earlier this month in west Shreveport.

In a continued custody hearing in Caddo Parish Juvenile Court Monday, October 16, 2023, Juvenile Judge Ree Casey-Jones determined there was probable cause that Devetrick Johnson, 16, committed offenses as charged and could be transferred to adult court for prosecution.

Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. then ordered Johnson to be tried as an adult in District Court.

An October 9 carjacking attempt at an apartment complex in the 6800 block of Rasberry Lane led to two shots being fired at the driver. The driver was struck in an arm and was treated at Ochsner LSU Health. He survived. The shooter fled, but video surveillance and distinctive clothing led to identification by police, who arrested Johnson at an apartment in the 6000 block of Rasberry Lane.

Louisiana Children’s Code article 305 provides for the divestiture of juvenile court jurisdiction upon review by the District Attorney for children 15 or older for a select number of criminal acts, including armed robbery. A provision of the same code's Article 879 further provides that all proceedings in a juvenile delinquency case involving a crime of violence as defined by the code must be open to the public.

Assistant District Attorney Jerry Deason secured the findings.