BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Walker man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was found guilty of killing a man from Ponchatoula in 2023.
Edward Paul Louque, 71, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, Aug. 4, in connection with the death of Barry Roussel, 62. The sentencing comes after a fast verdict in June. 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said a Livingston Parish jury found Louque guilty in only 40 minutes of deliberation.
The case stems from a domestic-related shooting on July 18, 2023, at the Livingston Parish Tourist Information Center near Albany. Prosecutors said Louque sent threatening messages, emails, and phone calls to Roussel months before the murder.
Photo courtesy of 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux.
Surveillance footage from the three-day trial showed Roussel in his car with a woman before Louque arrived, blocked the car, and confronted him. Louque is seen entering the vehicle with a pistol, striking Roussel, and ultimately firing eight shots, killing him.
Perrilloux said two bystanders saw the shooting. They testified, along with members of law enforcement.
Louque claimed self-defense, but the jury rejected that argument, according to Perrilloux. He was found guilty of second-degree murder.
“I’m happy to finally get some closure for the family and friends of Mr. Roussel after nearly two years of agony and the lifetime of sorrow they will feel because of the actions of Mr. Louque. This was a senseless killing of a good, kindhearted man,” said Assistant District Attorney Greg Stahlnecker, Jr., who prosecuted the case for the state.
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