Three indicted in July slaying
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CLINTON — An East Feliciana Parish grand jury indicted three people Tuesday in connection with a July 24 fatal shooting and, in a separate case, indicted an Ethel couple on rape charges.
The 10 grand jurors hearing cases Tuesday reported to 20th Judicial District Judge George H. Ware Jr. that they returned a “true bill” accusing Anthony Manzella, 19, 52423 Piazza Road, Hammond, of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jeral Wayne Matthews Jr., 21.
The panel also indicted Manzella’s companion, Andrew Robertson, 23, 14568 Kohnke Road, Hammond, and Matthews’ friend, Johnny Barnes, 27, 3302 Quiet Lane, Jackson, for principal to second-degree murder and attempted possession of drugs.
Clinton Police Chief Eddie Stewart said Matthews and Barnes were in a Kennedy Street residence the night of July 24 when Manzella and Robertson came to the house to buy drugs.
Before the transaction could occur, Matthews allegedly struck Manzella on the head with the butt of an assault rifle. Manzella pulled a Glock .40-caliber handgun, aimed it at Matthews and pulled the trigger, Stewart said.
The weapon misfired, but Manzella allegedly ejected the bullet and fired a second time, killing Matthews, the police chief said.
After the shooting, the three remaining men ran outside the residence and into the path of a passing Clinton police officer, who took all three into custody.
Stewart said Tuesday that Manzella was known to sometimes exercise his right to carry a holstered firearm in plain view in public places, but Stewart added that police have reason to believe the suspect had the Glock concealed when he was in the house.
“We found the holster in their car,” Stewart said.
Twentieth Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla said the state’s justifiable homicide statutes do not apply when the shooter is engaged in buying or selling drugs.
In another case, the grand jury indicted William “Billy” Staton, 38, of Ethel, for aggravated rape and his wife, Michelle H. Staton, 36, for accessory after the fact to aggravated rape.
The indictment says the rape involved a girl younger than 13 and occurred between Aug. 1, 2007, and Aug. 1, 2008.
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