In a quiet neighborhood in Ashland, a domestic dispute escalated into a fatal encounter, leaving a family and community in mourning. Michael Jerome Stewart, a 32-year-old man, was shot and killed in his home on Fresno Drive. The late-night incident on a Saturday shattered the peace of the Ashland North subdivision and set in motion a chain of events that would lead to the arrest of his live-in girlfriend.
Earlier that evening, the situation between Stewart and Schwann Williams, also 32,
had reportedly turned violent. According to the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office, Stewart had physically assaulted Williams in a lot near their shared residence. Witnesses to the altercation confirmed that the couple went back inside their home shortly before the sound of a single gunshot broke the stillness of the night. In the immediate aftermath, Williams was seen rushing out of the house in a state of panic, screaming for police and medical help.
When deputies arrived at the scene around 11 p.m., they discovered Stewart had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the residence. In her account to the authorities, Williams stated that she shot Stewart during the course of their dispute. Based on the evidence gathered during the initial investigation, Williams was taken into custody and charged with one count of manslaughter.
Authorities noted that there had been a prior documented domestic abuse incident involving the couple in the preceding year. Following her arrest, Williams was booked into the Terrebonne Parish jail to await a bond hearing. The investigation into the shooting was reported to be ongoing as authorities continued to piece together the tragic events of that night.
