The Louisiana Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Latron Thomas Jones for second degree murder and attempted second degree murder. The court ruled that sufficient evidence supported the jury's finding of specific intent, despite Jones's claims of intoxication during the incident. This ruling impacts Jones, who is serving a life sentence, and sets a precedent regarding the interpretation of intoxication in murder cases.
On August 26, 2026, the court delivered its decision in the case of State of Louisiana v. Latron Thomas Jones, docket number 56,974-KA. The court's ruling affirmed the judgment of the Fourth Judicial District Court for the Parish of Ouachita, where Jones was convicted in July 2025. The court found that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to prove that Jones acted with specific intent when he shot and killed Fransqwur Harris and attempted to kill Myron Kelley.
Background
Latron Thomas Jones was involved in a shooting incident that occurred in Monroe, Louisiana, during a Christmas celebration in 2021. Jones, along with Harris and Kelley, had been drinking and using drugs while celebrating on a party bus. Following the party, tensions escalated when Jones got into an argument at a club, prompting his friends to try to take him home.
After leaving the club, Jones and his friends ended up at Liberty Village Apartments. During a confrontation, Harris threw a handgun into Jones's lap, leading to Jones firing the weapon multiple times. Harris was killed, and Kelley was injured but managed to escape. Jones was arrested days later and charged with multiple offenses, including second degree murder.
The Ruling
The court, led by Judge Ellender, ruled that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support the jury's verdict. The court noted, "The evidence was sufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, Jones’s specific intent to commit these crimes." Jones had argued that his intoxication and provocation should have negated his intent to kill, but the court found that the jury could reasonably discredit his claims of impairment.
In its opinion, the court highlighted that Jones's conduct after the shooting—such as fleeing the scene and disposing of the weapon—was inconsistent with being too intoxicated to form specific intent. The court stated, "None of this conduct is consistent with a state of intoxication that would negate the formation of specific intent." This ruling affirmed the jury's decision to convict Jones of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder.
Impact
The court's ruling has significant implications for future cases involving claims of intoxication as a defense against murder charges. The decision reinforces the idea that intoxication does not automatically negate specific intent. Instead, it is up to the jury to determine whether a defendant's intoxicated state prevented them from forming the necessary intent to commit a crime.
This ruling may affect how similar cases are prosecuted in Louisiana, as defendants may find it more challenging to use intoxication as a defense in murder cases. The case also highlights the importance of the jury's role in assessing the credibility of witnesses and the evidence presented during a trial.
What's Next
Jones has the option to file an application for rehearing within the timeframe allowed by Louisiana law. Details regarding any related cases or further appeals were not available in the court filing.