Devoris Antonio Hardy, Firearm Possession, Louisiana 2023

A Shreveport gang member has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm while under indictment for second-degree murder, a crime that occurred in December 2020. Devoris Antonio Hardy, 23, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter, who also ordered Hardy to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

According to information presented in court, Hardy, who had ties to a Shreveport gang, was indicted on March 25, 2021, in Caddo Parish for one count of second-degree murder. On April 6, 2021, he was formally arraigned on all charges and released on a $250,000 bond.

Less than one year later, on March 14, 2022, Shreveport Police Department officers responded to a call about two cars shooting at each other at the corner of Youree Drive and East Washington Street in close proximity to the Montessori School for Shreveport. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals outside of a vehicle that had a gunshot hole in the rear window. Defendant Hardy was located a little further away on East Washington Street. Officers found six spent shell casings inside Hardy’s vehicle. In addition, officers found a Glock pistol, model: 22 Gen 4, Caliber: 40 in the bed of a pickup truck that belonged to an innocent person where officers learned Hardy had stashed the pistol following the shootout. The shell casings found in Hardy’s vehicle matched the Glock 22 found in the bed of the pickup truck.

Hardy admitted to officers that while attending a hearing regarding his second-degree murder charge in Caddo Parish that morning, he saw a member of a rival gang in the courtroom that he had issues with. Hardy stated that he thought they were about to fight in the courthouse. After court, he was picked up by his brother and suspected that the gang member would follow him. Hardy asked for the gun, which he stated was his friend’s father’s gun, because he was nervous. He told officers that shortly thereafter another vehicle approached their vehicle and opened fire. Hardy returned fire and the vehicle he was in attempted to get away. Hardy admitted that the gun found in the pickup truck was the one he used.

Hardy was indicted in federal court for receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment in May 2022 and was held without bond due to him being a danger to the community. In August 2023, Hardy proceeded to a jury trial in Caddo Parish District Court on the second-degree murder charge and the jury returned a responsive verdict of negligent homicide. He was sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment allowed by the state statute, five years. Hardy pleaded guilty to the federal charge on October 23, 2023, and was subsequently sentenced yesterday.

“This is a dangerous individual who has a callous disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We are pleased that this Court upward departed from the recommended sentencing guidelines in this case to a 36 month sentence. We are working with law enforcement at every level and District Attorney Stewart’s office to get firearms that are in the wrong hands out of those hands and put Shreveport’s most dangerous individuals in state and federal prison.”

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/shreveport-gang-member-sentenced-federal-court-illegally-possessing-firearm-while