Month: April 2026

Jamal Harris guilty of murdering Marrero woman, her father

A Jefferson Parish judge on Wednesday (April 29) found Jamal Harris guilty of murdering a Marrero woman and her father after her dating app meeting turned bad. 

Harris, 41, who also used the name Jarmaal Harris, is guilty as charged of two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Troulliet, 35, and her father, Robert Templet, 56, on Oct. 3, 2020. 

A convicted felon who was on parole when he committed the murders, Harris met Troulliet at her Marrero home after they connected through a dating app. Troulliet was not impressed with Harris’ looks, and so she wanted to end the date as soon as it began. 

Templet joined his daughter as she gave Harris a ride to Marrero. From the back seat of Troulliet’s Mercury Mountaineer, Harris shot the woman and her father in the backs of their heads. A driver passing the parked Mercury Moutaineer called 911 believing the people were passed out in the vehicle at Fourth Street and Garden Road. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies found that the victims had been shot and died. 

“He executed two innocent people because he got his feelings hurt that he isn’t sexy,” Assistant District Attorney Taylor Somerville said in closing argument, turning to Harris. “You took away a mother to three boys, a daughter, a nanny and a granddaughter. And you took away this family’s father, pawpaw, brother and friend.”

Detectives discovered that Troulliet’s cell phone was missing. They tracked the device’s last location to a residence on Mistletoe Street in New Orleans’ Hollygrove neighborhood, where Harris’ relatives lived. The detectives further linked Harris to the murders through his cell phone communications and geo-location technology. 

A U.S. Marshals fugitive task force arrested Harris on Oct. 21, 2020, at his cousin’s residence on Center Street in Avondale. Harris initially refused to leave the residence. When arrested, task force members found an assault-style rifle in the residence. 

In addition to the murders, Harris was convicted of obstruction of justice for taking Troulliet’s cell phone to impede the investigation and two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Harris was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 2007 conviction of armed robbery in Jefferson Parish. He was on parole for the armed robbery until October 2022. 

Harris waived a trial by jury, leaving it to 24th Judicial District Judge Donnie Rowan to weigh the evidence. Judge Rowan found Harris guilty of all charges and set the sentencing for May 8. 

Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Somerville and Shannon Swaim prosecuted the case. 

Warren Smith convicted of fatally shooting brother-in-law in Kenner

A Jefferson Parish jury on Wednesday (April 22) found Warren Smith guilty of shooting his brother-in-law three times, including twice in the back in Kenner two years ago.

Smith, 35, of Kenner, was convicted of manslaughter in the Aug. 4, 2024, death of Reginald Scott Jr., 43.

Both men lived in an apartment complex in the 4200 block of Chateau Boulevard. They had unresolved hostilities dating to 2011, when Smith’s sister, who was married to Scott, committed suicide. Smith believed Scott pushed his sister to take her own life.

Immediately after the shooting, Smith was heard saying, “Reg ain’t gonna mess with me no more. I shot him.” Smith then fled to Baton Rouge, where he was arrested several hours later by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Smith purchased the 9mm semiautomatic pistol about two weeks before he shot Scott and “was waiting for any opportunity to kill his brother-in-law,” Assistant District Attorney Molly Love told jurors Wednesday in closing argument.

“This wasn’t self-defense,” ADA Love told jurors. “Warren wasn’t scared of Reginald when he stood over his body making sure he finished the job, making sure he wasn’t going to mess with him anymore.”

Two family members called the Kenner Police Department after the shooting, including Scott’s son, who found his mortally wounded father on the ground outside his apartment. Police found bloody footprints that led from Scott’s apartment to Smith’s apartment. The footprints were found on the carpeted stairs inside Smith’s apartment, leading to Smith’s bedroom.

Smith stood trial on a charge of second-degree murder. Jurors deliberated about three hours in finding him guilty of the lesser offense, which carries a punishment of up to 40 years in prison.

Judge Stephen Enright of the 24th Judicial District Court set sentencing for May 14.

Assistant District Attorneys Molly Love and Theresa King prosecuted the case.