Derrick Morris guilty of attempted slaying

A masked gunman who shot and grievously wounded a friend last year was found guilty in Caddo District Court this week.

The nine-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory's court deliberated less than three hours before returning its unanimous responsive attempted manslaughter verdict Tuesday, September 23, 2025 against Derrick Deone Morris, 44, of Bossier City. 

Jurors heard from the responding officer and investigating detective, as well as victim Tauris Willis, regarding the April 19, 2024 shooting in the north Shreveport Cherokee Park neighborhood.

That evening, Mr. Willis was sitting in his car when he was approached by a masked man. The individual removed the mask covering his face and told Willis "I told you I was going to get you," and then shot him three times, once in each leg, severing the femoral artery in one of them, and once in his head, resulting in a grazing wound.  Willis was able to identify his assailant as his lifelong friend, Derrick Morris.

When Morris returns to court for sentencing October 20, 2025, he faces up to 20 years at hard labor. He could face enhanced sentencing as a habitual offender, however.

Morris was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Sean R. Fore. He was defended by Rickey Swift.

The case was docket No. 405929.