In a quiet town in Louisiana, a heated argument between two acquaintances tragically escalated, leaving one man dead and the other facing a lifetime behind bars. The life of Michael G. Fountain, a 56-year-old male from Vinton, was cut short on a Wednesday afternoon in March 2017. Events unfolded at a residence on Highway 109 South, where a verbal dispute between Fountain and 70-year-old Frin W. Coward took a fatal turn.
Responding to a shooting, deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene to find Michael G. Fountain deceased in the driveway. An investigation swiftly pointed to Coward as the perpetrator. It was revealed that in the heat of their argument, Coward had fired several shots, fatally striking Fountain. When confronted by detectives, Coward admitted to the shooting. A woman, who was an acquaintance of both men, was present at the residence during the incident but managed to flee unharmed and flag down a passing motorist for help.
Following the investigation, Frin W. Coward was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. His bond was set at $1.5 million. In February 2018, a jury found Coward guilty of the charge. During the trial, Coward maintained that he had acted in self-defense. However, the prosecution presented evidence of prior threats he had made against Fountain. The coroner's report confirmed that Fountain had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his neck, trunk, and right leg.
Ultimately, the jury rejected Coward's claim of self-defense, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. Coward later appealed both his conviction and the length of his sentence, arguing that it was excessive and that the shooting was not intentional or unprovoked. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, stating that the evidence supported the jury's finding that Coward had the specific intent to kill. A subsequent appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court was also denied, solidifying his life sentence.
