In the quiet town of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, a life was tragically cut short on a Tuesday in early spring. Michael 'Mikey' Stewart, a 21-year-old male, was killed on March 10, 2015, in an act of gun violence that sent ripples through the community. The incident prompted an investigation by local law enforcement, who soon identified a person of interest.
In the days that followed the shooting, authorities began to piece together the events that led to Stewart's untimely death.
Their investigation pointed toward a single suspect, O'Neal Ronell Stripling. Evidence gathered by detectives led to Stripling's arrest in connection with the fatal shooting. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, accused of being responsible for the death of the young Donaldsonville man.
Following his arrest, O'Neal Ronell Stripling was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail as he awaited legal proceedings. In November 2016, a jury was seated for his trial in an Ascension Parish courtroom. After hearing the evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense, the jury rendered its verdict. O'Neal Ronell Stripling was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. For his role in the death of Michael 'Mikey' Stewart, Stripling was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.
