A Shreveport man convicted in April of manslaughter was sentenced to life in prison last week in Caddo District Court.
Kevin Ray Bowers, 30, received the life sentence from Caddo District Judge Brady O’Callaghan after a multiple-offender hearing on Aug. 31 determined him to be a fourth-felony offender with regard to the August 2014 slaying of Dejuan Kennedy.
Bowers shot Kennedy, 22, in the upper body with a semi-automatic rifle in the 4100 block of Jacob Street and later was apprehended by U.S. Marshals. He originally was charged with second-degree murder. He has previous convictions for second-degree battery in 2003, domestic abuse battery in 2008, attempted possession of a firearm by a felon in 2005 and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute in 2011.
The life sentence at hard labor will be served without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Bowers was committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Prosecutors were Monique Y. Metoyer and Mekisha Smith Creal. Bowers was defended by Mary Harried.