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On August 30, 2022, 30-year-old Quannae Clark of 502 N Ezidore St. Gramercy, LA, pled guilty to Manslaughter in connection with the 2019 shooting death of 22-year-old Destin Smith also of Gramercy. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors just prior to the opening statements on the morning of a scheduled jury trial. Clark was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over this matter is the Honorable Judge Steven Tureau.

         On February 11, 2019, St. James Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Lutcher apartment complex in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located Destin Smith suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Detectives responded to an area hospital where Smith was transported for treatment, however, Smith succumbed to his injuries. Detectives began canvassing the scene and identified Quannae Clark as the suspected shooter. Upon completion of an extensive investigation, detectives applied for and were granted a warrant for the arrest of Quannae Clark. Clark was subsequently located at a residence in St. John Parish. Clark was arrested and booked into the St. James Parish Jail.

         Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charge, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Sentencing is tentatively set for November 14, 2022. Clark faces up to 40 years in state prison.

Submitted by Public Information Officer Tyler Cavalier for 23^rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky L. Babin.