Javerea Cockerm, Drive-By Shooting, Louisiana 2023

A Shreveport man has been sentenced to 58 months in federal prison for his role in a drive-by shooting last year.

According to court documents, Javerea Cockerm, 29, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 58 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

On September 7, 2019, the Shreveport Police Department received a complaint regarding a drive-by shooting. When officers arrived at the shooting scene, they learned that a male had gotten out of the passenger side of a car and opened fire on another vehicle. The victims in the vehicle were able to evade the shooting and drove off from the scene. Police officers were able to determine the descriptions of the shooter, the occupants of the vehicle, and what vehicle they were driving. Moments later, officers stopped a vehicle in a nearby neighborhood matching the description they received and were able to identify Cockerm as the shooter.

Cockerm was sitting in the front passenger seat when officers stopped the vehicle and his physical build and clothing matched the descriptions provided. Officers discovered two firearms in the glove compartment in front of the passenger seat and an opened box of ammunition underneath the front passenger seat.

Cockerm has previous felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute drugs (2014), aggravated flight from an officer (2015), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2018). Cockerm knew that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.