On Thanksgiving Day in 2015, a celebration in Plaquemine, Louisiana, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 27-year-old Derick Askins. The gathering was shattered by an act of violence stemming from a misunderstanding. Jerome Gray approached Askins at the get-together under the mistaken belief that Askins was romantically involved with his girlfriend.
Witnesses reported that the confrontation escalated quickly as Gray swung a fist at Askins before ultimately shooting him in the chest.
The single gunshot proved fatal for Askins. In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement initiated an investigation that led them to Baton Rouge, where Jerome Gray was subsequently arrested.
The legal proceedings against Gray culminated in a trial in Iberville Parish. In November 2019, a jury unanimously found Jerome Gray guilty of second-degree murder. He was also convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, as he had a prior conviction for second-degree battery. Following his conviction, Gray faced the possibility of a life sentence in prison for the murder of Derick Askins.
