In the late afternoon of May 18, 2018, a confrontation in the 1000 block of Paul Fredrick Street in Luling, Louisiana, tragically cut short the life of 19-year-old Savahn Stewart. The young man was fatally shot shortly after 4:50 p.m. following a dispute that escalated into violence. Stewart was quickly transported to St. Charles Parish Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities swiftly identified the alleged shooter as Leonard Celestine III, who had fled the scene in a
vehicle. A responding detective spotted the vehicle on Interstate 310 North Bound and conducted a traffic stop. Inside were Leonard Celestine and his brother, Jerry Celestine, both of whom were taken into custody. The subsequent investigation revealed that a confrontation between Leonard Celestine and Savahn Stewart led to the fatal shooting.
Leonard Celestine III, who was 25 at the time, was charged with second-degree murder and principal to obstruction of justice. His brother, Jerry Celestine, then 23, faced charges of principal to second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and felony carrying of an illegal weapon. In August 2018, a grand jury indicted Leonard Celestine on the second-degree murder count. Ultimately, he entered into a plea bargain, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter as well as obstruction of justice. As a result, Leonard Celestine was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
