On a fateful day in Gretna, Louisiana, a young man's life was tragically cut short. Ethan Allen, a 22-year-old Black male from Marrero, was killed on November 29, 2016. What began as a plan for a drug transaction ended in a fatal ambush. Allen had been lured to the 800 block of Gulf Drive with the promise of a deal, but instead, he was met by two individuals with robbery on their minds.
The perpetrators were identified as Steven Tate, 25, of Metairie, and Leonidas Lowry, who was 16 at
the time of the incident, from Gretna. The initial plan to rob Allen quickly escalated into violence. Tate fired upon Allen, who, despite being wounded, managed to return fire and injure Tate. Tragically, Ethan Allen succumbed to his injuries near the scene of the shooting. The Gretna Police Department discovered the wounded Tate outside a nearby residence.
The investigation into Allen's murder led to the arrests of both Tate and Lowry. Their legal proceedings culminated in convictions for second-degree murder. In March 2022, Leonidas Lowry was convicted and, due to his age at the time of the crime, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years. A few months later, in August 2022, a unanimous jury found Steven Tate guilty of second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Tate's defense team's attempts to secure a new trial or have the verdict overturned were unsuccessful.
