A simmering, years-long dispute between neighbors in a Harvey, Louisiana community culminated in the tragic death of Garland Webber on November 11, 2019. The 57-year-old man was unarmed when he was shot six times by his next-door neighbor, Lawrence Sly, then 67 years old. The conflict, which had escalated over time from threats and harassment to physical altercations, reached its fatal conclusion outside their homes on Chinkapin Street.
The history of animosity between Webber and Sly was
well-documented, with Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputies having been called to their residences on multiple occasions since at least 2015 for accusations of threats, harassment, and assault. In one instance in 2017, Webber had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for pointing a shotgun at Sly. Another altercation in 2018 resulted in injuries to both men, though no charges were filed. The ongoing feud reportedly stemmed from a variety of disagreements that spiraled into a deeply rooted animosity.
On that Monday evening in November, the conflict ended in gunfire. Sly shot Webber multiple times, including twice in the head. In the aftermath, Sly claimed he acted in self-defense, telling investigators that he was taking out his trash when Webber approached him and he believed Webber was reaching for a gun in his waistband. However, the investigation concluded that Webber was not armed at the time of the shooting. Sly later admitted to police that he continued to fire even after Webber had collapsed, fearing retaliation if he survived.
Initially, Lawrence Sly was booked on a manslaughter charge, a decision that caused bewilderment and anguish for Webber's family. They questioned why the charge was not murder, given that Webber was unarmed. In June 2020, a Jefferson Parish Grand Jury indicted Sly on the more severe charge of second-degree murder. After a trial, a jury found Lawrence Sly guilty of the second-degree murder of Garland Webber in June 2022. The conviction carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
