A Jefferson Parish judge on Wednesday evening (Nov. 30) found Corey Ivey guilty of killing the Metairie man who was engaged to his ex-wife.
Ivey, 46, of New Orleans, was convicted as charged of the second-degree murder of Keith Ellis, 51, who was shot multiple times as he stood in the doorway of his apartment dressed only in pajamas.
About 8:45 a.m., on July 26, 2020, Ivey was dropped off near the apartment in the 1900 block of South Clearview Parkway by an unknown driver. At the time, his ex-wife lived there with Ellis, her fiancé, who worked at a sugar manufacturing plant.
She was away at the time of the shooting, but her 6-year-old daughter with Ivey was asleep in the apartment. A nearby resident heard the gunfire and called 911. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies found Ellis lying in the doorway near seven .45-caliber fired bullet casings. He died hours later at a hospital.
The entire incident was recorded by a nearby security video system. A witness identified Ivey as the shooter in the video. Arrested by the Sheriff’s Office, Ivey denied it and said that at the time of the shooting, he was with a prostitute he solicited in eastern New Orleans.
Ivey was serving a 10-year prison sentence for a conviction of heroin possession when his wife divorced him. She was romantically involved with Ellis when Ivey was released from prison in June 2019 on parole. He attempted to rekindle their relationship.
Days prior to the shooting, Ivey got into a physical fight with Ellis. Ivey struck Ellis in the head with a pistol during the fight, leading to his being charged with aggravated battery.
Because of his criminal history, Ivey was barred by state law from possessing the pistol he used to shoot Ellis, leading to his being charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He additionally was charged with obstruction of justice, for getting rid of that pistol after the shooting.
On Monday, Ivey waived a trial by jury, meaning 24th Judicial District Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach weighed the evidence and decided the case.
After hearing two days of testimony and after taking a brief recess to consider the charges Wednesday, Judge Kovach found Ivey guilty as charged of all four counts.
Judge Kovach is scheduled to sentence Ivey on Dec. 8.
Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Voss and Douglas Rushton prosecuted the case.