In April 2017, a 24-year-old woman named Brandi Ayers was fatally shot in her Baton Rouge apartment. The incident occurred following an argument she had with a man named Courtland Owens. Ayers's roommate was present at the time of the shooting and informed detectives that Owens was holding a gun immediately after the shot was fired. The only other person in the apartment was an infant.
An investigation into the shooting revealed a history of domestic violence.
Court records showed that Owens had been charged with domestic abuse and assault against Ayers on multiple occasions prior to her death. This history painted a grim picture of their relationship and provided a motive for the violent altercation that led to Ayers's death.
Initially, Courtland Owens was charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Brandi Ayers. However, in a subsequent legal proceeding, the 30-year-old Owens pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison for his role in her death.
