SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – On Aug. 8, a man, who shot and killed a childhood friend on a basketball court, was found guilty of second-degree murder in Caddo District Court.
Andre Deshun Gladney, now 22, but who was 18 at the time of the March 7, 2022, shooting, was found guilty unanimously by the six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s court after deliberations that lasted less than an hour.
Taurean Coleman, 19, Gladney’s friend since middle school, was shot and killed on the basketball court at Anderson Island Park in Shreveport. Gladney surrendered to Shreveport Police later that day, claiming he acted in self-defense.
Jurors learned that Coleman was shot eight times, with six shots fired into his back. DNA on the gun matched Gladney and blood on Gladney’s jacket matched Coleman.
CRIME IN THE ARKLATEX ➣
The lead detective on the case testified at trial about his investigation and his interview with Gladney, who eventually admitted to shooting Coleman, but claimed it was because he believed Coleman would kill him, despite being unarmed with no immediate access to a weapon. The jury rejected the self-defense contention.
Gladney returns for sentencing on Aug. 28, where he faces a mandatory life prison term without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
ALL INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE CADDO PARISH DA’s OFFICE.
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