For Immediate Release s386

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Amite- District Attorney Scott M. Perrilloux reports that 37-year-old Eugene Guidry, of Hammond, LA, was found guilty of obstruction of justice, possession of schedule II controlled dangerous substances, possession of a fire arm by a convicted felon, and the second degree murder of Jerrell Bird.

According to police reports, on the night of the murder, Guidry contacted a friend to pick him up because he needed to “score some dope”. Guidry, his friend, and a female rode around the neighborhood for a while and came across Jerrell Bird.

In Guidry’s statement to police he said they picked Bird up and continued to ride around the neighborhood before heading to Guidry’s residence.

Guidry stated once arriving to his residence; he made a narcotic transaction with Jerrell Bird. Guidry stated that he gave Bird $10.00 for crack cocaine. After observing the size of the crack rock, he decided that it was not worth his $10.00 and asked Bird for his money back.

Guidry stated that Bird accused him of breaking the “rock” down into a smaller piece before demanding his money back. Verbal words were exchanged between Guidry and Bird but the argument did not turn physical. After the argument, Bird got back into the car and left Guidry’s residence.

After the verbal altercation, Guidry called his friend Earnest “Cookie” James and asked him to bring him a gun. James brought Guidry a 9 millimeter handgun prior to the shooting.

During the trial, medical and crime scene experts took the stand to explain to members of the jury that Bird had been shot a total of 10 times. Bullets were taken from the victim’s body and compared to the bullets from 9 millimeter handgun Guidry asked his friend “Cookie” James to use and the bullets were from that same gun.

A female witness stated that she heard gun shots from her residence. After she heard the gunshots she looked out of the window and watched as Bird was running and fell to the ground and watched a taller male dressed in dark clothing run behind him and disappear behind a house.

Guidry stated at the time of the shooting he was at his residence in bed with his girlfriend. Detectives spoke with his girlfriend and she stated that he was not home during the time of the shooting and that he had left the residence in all black clothing with a firearm before the shooting.

Guidry was brought into Hammond Police Department as a person of interest based on information gathered throughout the investigation. Guidry declined to voluntarily submit to a DNA test to authorities. A search warrant was completed and signed in order for Hammond Police Department to take a DNA swab from Guidry.

Assistant District Attorneys Blair Alford and Brad Cascio represented the state with Judge Bruce Bennett presiding.

In the state of Louisiana second degree murder carries an automatic life sentence without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, said Perrilloux. Formal sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2015.