NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Five people were killed within a month’s time frame in 2022. On Friday, March 8, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams announced that Tyrone Steele has been convicted in connection to their deaths.
Williams said Steele was convicted of first and second-degree murder, aggravated battery and other crimes in connection to the deaths of Donald McNeil, Darrin Williams, Nehemiah Jones, Amya Cornin and Shane Brown.
Steele, who was 18 years old at the time, was arrested on April 4, 2022, in connection to two fatal shootings.
Williams, who described Steele as a “serial killer” and “one of the most violent predators that I’ve ever seen in New Orleans,” said he had gone on a month-long crime spree. The first was a triple homicide in the 4100 block of Encampment Street in Gentilly.
On March 21, 2022, officers with the New Orleans Police Department responded to a call of a shooting at the address. When they arrived, officers reported finding 21-year-old Amya Cornin, 27-year-old Darrin Williams and a third unidentified victim inside an apartment suffering from gunshot wounds.
They were all pronounced dead at the scene.
Days later, on March 26, 2022, Steele was involved in a second fatal shooting at the corner of Morrison and Gannon roads, according to court documents.
The crime was originally classified as unclassified death after NOPD officers found a man’s body floating in a canal.
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy, which led investigators to discover that the man, identified as 20-year-old Shane Brown, had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
The crime was reclassified as a homicide.
On May 24, 2021, Steele was also listed as a suspect in a homicide investigation in the 7500 block of Morel Street.
On Friday, Steele was found guilty of the crimes after a week-long trial. During the trial, Williams said ” Steele showed no remorse for his abhorrent crimes, which involved stalking and mutilating his victims in a manner reminiscent of scenes from a horror movie. His reign of terror has come to an end.”
“While no verdict can ever bring back the lives lost or fully ease the pain of the victims’ families, today’s convictions bring a measure of closure and justice,” said Williams. “We remain committed to pursuing justice for all victims, and we will continue to fight on behalf of those who have suffered at the hands of violent criminals like Tyrone Steele.”
Steele is expected to face a mandatory life sentence in prison for the offenses. Sentencing is set for March 15.
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