Metairie man found guilty of murdering three people

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A Metairie man has been convicted of killing three people during a shooting spree that happened over the course of two weeks back in 2019.

According to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, on four different occasions between June 5 and 18, 2019, then-22-year-old, now 28-year-old Sean Barrette, shot at six people while driving, killing three of them. All of the victims were strangers to Barrette.

On June 5, he reportedly shot at a 37-year-old Harvey man and a 34-year-old Mississippi woman, who escaped by hiding under the elevated Interstate 55 at Manchac.

On June 17 around 8:15 p.m., a 24-year-old Algiers woman was shot at while on Interstate 10 eastbound near the Orleans Parish Line. She continued on her way thinking that the sound was hail from a storm hitting her car.

Later in the day, around 11:12 p.m., Barrette shot at 22-year-old Isia Cadalzo-Sevilla, causing the victim to crash into a tree. Barrette then got out of his vehicle, reloaded his pistol, and shot the victim. Cadalzo-Sevilla was hospitalized with 12 gunshot wounds and later pronounced dead.

A day later, on June 18, around 4:16 p.m., 45-year-old Manuel Caronia, of Metairie, and 57-year-old Nicky Robeau, of Harahan, were also targeted by Barrette while driving a Cadillac Escalade in the 8600 block of West Metairie Avenue.

Barrette reportedly drove up next to them, extended his pistol from the passenger’s window, and started shooting. Deputies later found Caronia and Robeau in the Escalade, each having been shot twice. They were declared dead on scene.

During his trial, Barrette’s defense argued that he was not-guilty by reason of insanity, saying that he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was involuntarily committed for mental illness on two occasions prior to the shootings.

Ultimately, however, that defense was not effective to the jury, who found Barrette guilty after deliberating for one and a half hours on Friday, June 13, 2025.

His conviction was secured on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property. His sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18.

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