Caddo Parish D.A's Office: Convicted Killer Gets Life Sentence

Press release from the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office:

Oct 5, 2021

A man found guilty in Caddo District Court of second-degree murder last month was given the mandated sentence for his crime Tuesday, October 5, 2021.

District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Brandon McLaughlin of Houma, 22, to life in prison for the May 26, 2019 slaying of James Gonyer. Mr. Gonyer, 21, was shot six times with a .40 caliber handgun while he and McLaughlin were at a residence in the 7600 block of the Blanchard-Latex Road in west Caddo Parish. McLaughlin was found guilty-as-charged in a trial that concluded September 23, 2021.

The life term must be served at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Mr. McLaughlin was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kodie K. Smith and Brittany Arvie. He was defended by Mark Rogers.

This press release was produced by the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.