James E. Newman, a 53-year-old White man remembered by neighbors as a kind and helpful person, lived in a home on Rousselin Drive in New Orleans’s Seventh Ward. He shared the residence with his 73-year-old roommate, William Shoop, who was also known in the neighborhood as a genuine man who loved to help people. Their quiet life was tragically cut short in the spring of 2025.
On April 10, 2025, both Newman and Shoop were found inside their home suffering from gunshot wounds.
They were rushed to a local hospital, but their injuries proved fatal. The investigation immediately centered on their other roommate, 39-year-old Jared Pawlus.
Hours after the discovery, police located Pawlus in the 900 block of Royal Street in the city’s French Quarter. He was armed with a handgun, which led to a tense, four-hour standoff with the New Orleans Police Department. During negotiations with SWAT officers, Pawlus reportedly admitted to killing his roommates and told police he did not want to return to jail. The standoff escalated when Pawlus fired a shot at the officers, who then returned fire. Law enforcement was ultimately able to take Pawlus into custody by using less-lethal foam impact rounds.
In the aftermath, the sister of the accused revealed that her brother struggled with mental illness and substance abuse. She stated that he had grown paranoid and believed his roommates were going to harm him. She had become concerned for the men's safety after her brother allegedly confessed to his girlfriend, and she had contacted the police from her home in Florida. She also said she had spoken with James Newman just days before the killings, trying to warn him about her brother’s deteriorating condition.
Jared Pawlus was initially charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of James Newman and William Shoop, with his bond set at $2 million. He also faced five counts of attempted murder related to the police standoff. The case concluded on August 14, 2025, when Pawlus pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter. As part of a plea agreement that spared the victims' families the trauma of a trial, he was sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison.
