State of Louisiana v, Antonio Lacedric Johnson

Judgment rendered December 17, 2025.
Application for rehearing may be filed
within the delay allowed by Art. 922,
La. C. Cr. P.

No. 56,683-KA

COURT OF APPEAL
SECOND CIRCUIT
STATE OF LOUISIANA

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STATE OF LOUISIANA Appellee

versus

ANTONIO LACEDRIC JOHNSON Appellant

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Appealed from the
First Judicial District Court for the
Parish of Caddo, Louisiana
Trial Court No. 376,991

Honorable Christopher T. Victory, Judge

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LAW OFFICES OF J. RANSDELL KEENE Counsel for Appellant
By: J. Ransdell Keene

JAMES E. STEWART, SR. Counsel for Appellee
District Attorney

WILLIAM J. EDWARDS
CHRISTOPHER BOWMAN
MARGARET RICHIE GASKINS
Assistant District Attorneys

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Before COX, STEPHENS, and MARCOTTE, JJ.

COX, J.

This appeal arises out of the First Judicial District Court, Caddo

Parish, Louisiana. Antonio Lacedric Johnson was found guilty by a

unanimous jury of manslaughter and sentenced to 70 years’ imprisonment at

hard labor. Johnson appeals his conviction, arguing he acted in self-defense.

For the following reasons, we affirm Johnson’s conviction and sentence.

FACTS

Johnson was arrested on July 9, 2020, for the second degree murder of

Travarrius Adams, which occurred on May 27, 2020. He surrendered

himself at Caddo Correctional Center. The following testimonies were

presented at trial:

Shreveport Police Sergeant Colin Neville testified that he responded

to the Oak Meadows Apartments in Shreveport at 2:25 p.m. on May 27,

2020. He stated that there was a silver Nissan on the left, a blue Chrysler on

the right, and a black male in the passenger seat of the Chrysler who had

been shot several times. Sgt. Neville testified that he checked on the victim,

who still had a pulse, and called the fire department to assist the victim. He

described the victim as “slumped across the passenger seat, like he was

trying to exit out the door.”

Shreveport Police Corporal Matthew Dixon testified that on the day of

the shooting, he was working in the crime scene investigation unit. He

stated that when he arrived on the scene, the two vehicles were

approximately five to six feet apart. Cpl. Dixon testified that he marked

evidence and took pictures of the crime scene, including a possible escape

path through the woods. He stated that he did not find any evidence of

bullets hitting the Nissan but identified 16 projectile indentions on the

Chrysler. Cpl. Dixon stated that he did not identify any defects on the

Chrysler that appeared to be caused by a bullet being shot from the inside of

the Chrysler. He identified multiple shell casings and bullets located around

the Chrysler. Cpl. Dixon stated that he impounded and searched the

vehicles; he found Johnson’s identification card and debit card in the Nissan.

He identified photos from the crime scene and the vehicles at the impound

lot, which were all admitted into evidence.

Cpl. Dixon identified and described a diagram of the scene, including

where all the evidence was located. A total of 133 exhibits were admitted

during Cpl. Dixon’s testimony. Cpl. Dixon testified that he did not recover

any firearms from the scene or vehicles.

Wanda Tucker, Adams’s mother, testified that Adams had five

children, ranging from nine to six years old. She identified a picture of

Adams taken in 2020.

Jaderrick Pouncey testified that on the day Adams was shot, he was at

Geneva Lewis’s apartment. He stated that Lewis is his cousin, and while

visiting her, he called Johnson to come over so he could buy marijuana.

Pouncey testified that Johnson arrived in a grey vehicle, driven by his

girlfriend, “Toni”; Pouncey went downstairs and got in the vehicle with

Johnson. Pouncey stated that before he could buy the marijuana, a guy

pulled up, there was an altercation, and “it was quick.” Pouncey did not

recall any words spoken before the shots were fired. He stated that after the

shooting, he went back into his cousin’s apartment to let her know what was

going on, and when he came back out, Johnson was gone. Pouncey testified

that Johnson shot “Ma Pooh,” and there were kids in the vehicle with “Ma

Pooh.”
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On cross-examination, Pouncey clarified that “Toni” is Latoni

Gardner, “Ma Pooh” is Adams, Gardner previously dated Adams, and they

had one child together. Pouncey stated that he did not come out of his

cousin’s apartment to talk to police during the investigation because he

“really wasn’t trying to be involved with nothing that was going on.” At the

time of his testimony, Pouncey was incarcerated in East Baton Rouge Parish

on a felon in possession of a firearm charge. Pouncey testified that he had a

Glock 23 with him at the time of the shooting.

Dr. Long Jin, an associate professor at LSU Health Center in

Shreveport, was accepted as an expert in forensic pathology. Dr. Jin

performed the autopsy on Adams, and his report was admitted into evidence.

He testified that Adams’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds,

some of which lacerated Adams’s liver and went through his heart. Dr. Jin

stated that Adams sustained 12 gunshot wounds.

Summer Johnson, an expert in forensic firearms examination,

explained to the jury how a bullet functions when shot and how they are

compared to one another. She testified that 9 mm casings were found at the

scene, and although it is possible they could be shot from a Glock 23, which

is a .40 caliber firearm, the casings had no indication of being fired from a

.40 caliber firearm. Ms. Johnson stated that all 13 casings recovered from

the scene were fired from the same weapon.

Andrea Small testified that she was in a relationship with Adams

when he was shot. She stated that on the day of the shooting, Adams was

driving her Chrysler, she was in the passenger seat, and her two children

were in the backseat. She testified that they pulled up next to the Nissan,

and when Adams rolled the window down, Johnson jumped out of the
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Nissan and started shooting into her car. She stated that she got out and got

her kids out of the backseat. Small testified that Adams did not have a gun

that day and did not threaten Johnson before Johnson started shooting.

Small identified the photo lineup she was shown at the police station and the

picture she circled of the person who shot at her vehicle. On cross-

examination, Small stated that they were going to the apartment complex

because someone was calling Johnson, but she did not know who was

calling or why.

Shreveport Police Detective Monique Coleman testified that she was

the lead detective in the case. She stated that she ordered a six-person photo

lineup from the Louisiana State Police and had another detective show it to

Small. Det. Coleman stated that Small identified Johnson as the shooter.

She testified that about a month after the shooting, she interviewed Pouncey,

who also identified Johnson as the shooter.

Gardner testified on behalf of Johnson. She stated that Adams was

her ex-boyfriend, and she was pregnant with his child at the time of the

shooting. She testified that when they got to the apartment complex,

Pouncey got in the backseat of the car, and about 30 seconds later, the

Chrysler pulled up “really scary and fast.” She stated that the Chrysler was

still rocking after it stopped, and she and Johnson were both scared. Gardner

testified that she saw Adams driving the Chrysler, and when he parked, he

was moving quickly and about to get out of the car. She stated that Johnson

had to wiggle to get out of the Nissan because the Chrysler was parked so

close. She testified that after the shooting, Pouncey ran away, came back,

got things out of the Chrysler, and was picked up by a white car before

police arrived.
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On cross-examination, Gardner stated that in her grand jury

testimony, she did not say that the Chrysler pulled up in an aggressive

manner. She stated that she was not asked about the manner in which the

blue car pulled up. Gardner’s testimony that Pouncey went through the

Chrysler was inconsistent with her grand jury testimony that Pouncey went

through the Nissan and asked her for Johnson’s cell phone.

Johnson testified that he went to the apartment complex because

Pouncey called him to buy some marijuana and pay him back $100 that he

owed. He stated that Pouncey told him to pull in and park next to a blue car,

but there was no blue car in the lot, so he directed Ms. Gardner to park in an

empty space. Johnson stated that Pouncey had a gun on his hip when he got

in the car with them, and he had never seen Pouncey carry a gun. He

testified that then, the Chrysler pulled up, and Adams said, “I got y’all now.”

Johnson testified that he and Gardner were staying with different

friends, family members, and in hotels because of Adams. He stated that on

the day of the shooting, with the way Adams pulled in and his history with

Adams, he feared for his life. He stated that he grabbed his gun, opened the

door, fell out of the door, and started firing at Adams. He testified that he

ran from the apartment complex, jumped a fence, and ran to his mom’s

house; his mom took him to his sister’s house. Johnson stated that because

he thought he was going to jail, he spent time with his daughters and family

before turning himself in at Caddo Correctional.

Johnson stated that Pouncey acted like he knew what was going on

and was unfazed by how the Chrysler approached. He stated that because of

Pouncey’s behavior, his fear was heightened. Johnson testified that he was

not aiming for Adams; he was just shooting and running.
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The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of manslaughter.

Johnson filed a motion for post verdict judgment of acquittal, arguing the

evidence did not permit the finding of guilty. Johnson also filed a motion

for new trial, arguing there was insufficient evidence to convict him. Both

motions were denied.

Johnson was sentenced as a second felony habitual offender and

sentenced to 70 years of imprisonment at hard labor, without benefit of

probation or suspension of sentence. The trial court filed written reasons for

sentencing, highlighting Johnson’s criminal history and lack of remorse.

The trial court stated that based on the evidence at trial, Johnson could have

been found guilty of second degree murder, which would have been a life

sentence. The trial court noted Johnson’s violent crime of “carelessly firing

at least twelve rounds into a vehicle containing two small children,” and the

trial court believed Johnson did not understand the seriousness of his crime

and had “no reason to believe he will in the future.”

Johnson filed a motion to reconsider sentence. He argued that the 70-

year sentence was excessive and contrary to the Constitution. Johnson’s

motion was denied, and he now appeals.

DISCUSSION

Johnson argues that the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt

that the homicide was not committed in self-defense. He asserts that he was

set up for an unforeseen confrontation that the victim created. Johnson does

not contest that he shot Adams and claims it is uncontested that he did not

arrive at the scene with the intent to kill. Johnson asserts that he reacted in

self-preservation and fear, which is justifiable homicide.

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The standard of appellate review for a sufficiency of the evidence

claim is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to

the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential

elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); State v.

Ward, 50,872 (La. App. 2 Cir. 11/16/16), 209 So. 3d 228, writ denied, 17-

0164 (La. 9/22/17), 227 So. 3d 827. The appellate court does not assess the

credibility of witnesses or reweigh evidence. State v. Bass, 51,411 (La. App.

2 Cir. 6/21/17), 223 So. 3d 1242. A reviewing court accords great deference

to a jury’s decision to accept or reject the testimony of a witness in whole or

in part. State v. Alexander, 51,918 (La. App. 2 Cir. 4/11/18), 247 So. 3d

981, writ denied, 18-0805 (La. 2/11/19), 263 So. 3d 436.

When the defendant claims self-defense, the State has the burden to

prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the homicide was not committed in

self-defense. State v. Allen, 50,703 (La. App. 2 Cir. 8/10/16), 200 So. 3d

376, writ denied, 16-1734 (La. 9/6/17), 224 So. 3d 981; State v. Edwards,

49,635 (La. App. 2 Cir. 2/26/15), 162 So. 3d 512, writ denied, 15-0628 (La.

2/5/16), 186 So. 3d 1163. When a defendant claiming self-defense

challenges the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, the question becomes

whether, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,

any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the

homicide was not committed in self-defense. Id.

A homicide is justifiable when committed in self-defense by one who

reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of losing his life or

receiving great bodily harm and that the killing is necessary to save himself

from that danger. La. R.S. 14:20(A)(1). The possibility of retreat may not
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be considered as a factor in determining whether or not the defendant had a

reasonable belief that deadly force was reasonable and apparently necessary.

La. R.S. 14:20(D).

Factors to consider in determining whether a defendant had a

reasonable belief that the killing was necessary include the excitement and

confusion of the situation, the possibility of using force or violence short of

killing, and the defendant’s knowledge of the assailant’s bad character.

State v. Jones, 48,458 (La. App. 2 Cir. 11/20/13), 128 So. 3d 593, writ

denied, 13-2926 (La. 5/30/14), 140 So. 3d 1173.

Where there is conflicting testimony about factual matters, the

resolution of which depends upon a determination of the credibility of the

witnesses, the matter is one of the weight of the evidence, not its sufficiency.

State v. Alexander, supra. The trier of fact is charged with making a

credibility determination and may, within the bounds of rationality, accept or

reject the testimony of any witness in whole or in part. The reviewing court

may impinge on that discretion only to the extent necessary to guarantee the

fundamental due process of law. Id.

In La. R.S. 14:31(A), manslaughter is defined, in part, as:

(1) A homicide which would be murder under either Article 30
(first degree murder) or Article 30.1 (second degree murder),
but the offense is committed in sudden passion or heat of blood
immediately caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an
average person of his self-control and cool reflection.
Provocation shall not reduce a homicide to manslaughter if the
jury finds that the offender’s blood had actually cooled, or that
an average person’s blood would have cooled, at the time the
offense was committed;

The jury was given instructions on self-defense, second degree

murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide. The jury rejected Johnson’s

contention that he shot Adams in self-defense. Johnson was able to present
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testimony regarding his history with Adams, which caused him to move

around and stay with friends or in hotels. Johnson also testified that because

Pouncey had a gun, he felt there was danger. Gardner testified that she and

Johnson were both afraid when Adams pulled up beside them.

However, there was conflicting testimony presented regarding

whether Johnson was in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great

bodily harm. Small testified that Adams did not have a gun and had not

threatened Johnson upon arriving next to their vehicle. Pouncey testified

that he did not recall any words exchanged between Johnson and Adams,

and “it happened quick.” Detectives did not find a gun on Adams or in his

vehicle. Adams was found leaning over toward the passenger side of the

vehicle, as if trying to escape. Gardner’s credibility was called into question

because of inconsistencies with her grand jury testimony. Considering the

evidence presented at trial, we do not find the jury was erroneous in

rejecting Johnson’s self-defense claim and finding him guilty of

manslaughter. Johnson’s arguments are without merit, and we affirm his

conviction of manslaughter.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, we affirm Antonio Lacedric Johnson’s

conviction and sentence.

AFFIRMED.

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