Shay De St. Germain, a 33-year-old female, tragically lost her life on May 16, 2019, in New Orleans, Louisiana. A popular waitress at the Clover Grill in the French Quarter, she was known for her vibrant personality and radiant smile. Her life was cut short by a fatal gunshot wound to the face during an altercation at her place of work.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of May 15, 2019, when her ex-boyfriend, Alexander Kirby, who was 33 at the time, confronted her and her new
boyfriend, Dylan Pennington, in a courtyard behind the restaurant. Armed with a gun, Kirby approached Pennington, and a struggle over the weapon ensued. Shay attempted to intervene in the tussle between the two men, and it was during this struggle that the gun discharged, striking her in the face. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
Following the shooting, Louisiana State Police Troopers found Alexander Kirby nearby with bloody hands and holding the gun to his own head, threatening suicide. He eventually dropped the weapon and was arrested. An Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Kirby on several charges, including second-degree murder for the death of Shay de St. Germaine, attempted second-degree murder of her new boyfriend, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, and illegal carrying of a concealed weapon.
The subsequent trial in July 2022 largely centered on security camera footage of the shooting. After more than three hours of deliberation, a jury acquitted Alexander Kirby of all charges related to Shay's killing, including the lesser charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide. Prosecutors had acknowledged that Pennington was the last person holding the handgun. While acquitted of her murder, the jury did find Kirby guilty of aggravated battery against Dylan Pennington, who was struck with the gun during the struggle. For this conviction, Kirby faced a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
