BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer
A pair of mandatory life prison sentences awaits two men that were separately convicted of second degree murder by a trial jury on Tuesday for the 2021 execution-style shooting death of an Opelousas man.
The seven-day trial which featured noticeable St. Landry Parish Courthouse security presence, ended after jurors deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Marcus Chenier, 27 of Opelousas and Jevon Figaro, 26 of Lafayette.in connection with the shooting death of 37-year-old Kelly Guidry of Opelousas.
Prosecutors Katie Ryan and Laura Signorelli presented evidence for the District Attorney’s Office during the first joint parish murder trial in 25 years.
Trial testimony and Opelousas Police Department press releases indicate that Guidry was fatally shot multiple times on Jan. 23, 2021 at the corner of North Market and Chaney streets in Opelousas.
Prosecutors presented trial evidence which included Spirit Airlines flight records, cell phone communication records and testimony from a cooperating individual, according to a press release issued by the DA’s Office following the verdict.
The press release also indicated that prosecutors provided trial exhibits which showed separate weapons – an AR15 semi-automatic pistol and a full barrel rifle were used to shoot Kelly.
Testimony also revealed, the press release said, that 20 shell casings from .223 and 5.56 caliber weapons were found by investigators at the crime scene, which according to prosecutors, showed there two shooters were involved
According to an OPD press release issued in connection with the arrests,Chenier was apprehended in Las Vegas on April 7, 2021, while Figaro turned himself in to authorities.
At the time of their arrests, Chenier and Figaro were booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on charges of attempted murder, attempted second degree murder and criminal damage to property.
Chenier’s arrest warrant indicates an additional charge of a felon in possession of a firearm.
Another OPD press release said that Antonio Livings, 18, was arrested April 13, 2021 for second degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Guidry.
Livings was also charged with attempted second degree murder and criminal damage to property.
