After deliberating less than 2-1/2 hours, a St. Charles Parish jury found 23-year-old Javon Wells guilty of the 2016 murder of Kendall Williams Jr., who was less than a week away from graduating from Destrehan High School.
Wells was arrested May 4 of last year after Sheriff’s detectives discovered Williams’ body under a gazebo at a park in New Sarpy with a single bullet wound to the head. Wells was charged and found guilty today (May 25) of second-degree murder following a three-day trial.
“Williams’ mother [Kelly Walker] provided moving testimony at the trial about her 18-year-old son and his love for cars and excitement about his upcoming high school graduation,” according to the parish District Attorney’s office.
DA Joel T. Chaisson II said Wells faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Sentencing will be July 11 by Judge Emile R. St. Pierre.
“Kendall Williams Jr. was a bright light in his family and in our community,” Chaisson said. “Instead of attending his graduation ceremony, Kendall’s family attended his funeral ceremony.
He added, “I applaud those young men who stood in the face of adversity and testified about what they knew. They did the right thing.”
Chaisson said, “In addition to the stellar efforts of Assistant DA Connie Aucoin and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, community involvement is what allowed my office to secure this conviction and its importance cannot be overstated.”
Two witnesses identified Wells as the shooter in police reports.
On the first year anniversary of her son’s death, Walker said she just wanted to remember her slain son and desperately wanted the trial to be done.
Walker, who said she’s been haunted by the question of why Wells killed her son, did not get her answer.
Wells, who was apparently living nearby at his grandmother’s residence in New Sarpy, reportedly argued with Williams, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Wells was accused of simply walking over to Williams and shooting him pointblank once in the head. Williams was reported dead at the scene.
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