In a heart-wrenching turn of events, 25-year-old Katelyn Howard was found shot to death in the parking lot of the Georgetown of New Orleans Apartments on the evening of Wednesday, October 16, 2024. A neighbor discovered her unresponsive and, upon moving her slightly, found a bullet wound. Emergency services were called, but Howard was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on 35-year-old Eric Gentris, the father of Howard's four-year-old daughter.
A tumultuous and violent history plagued their years-long relationship. Court records revealed a pattern of domestic abuse, with multiple prior arrests for battery against Howard, including an incident while she was pregnant. Just months before her death, Gentris had been arrested for breaking into her home and assaulting her. Despite this history, he was released, and in one instance, charges were dropped when Howard did not cooperate with prosecutors.
Following the shooting, Gentris fled with their young daughter, sparking a multi-jurisdictional police chase. He was spotted driving on the Whiskey Bay Bridge, and the pursuit lasted for approximately 45 minutes. Law enforcement successfully used tire deflation devices to stop his vehicle near Scott, Louisiana. Gentris was taken into custody without further incident, and thankfully, his daughter was found unharmed in the vehicle.
Gentris was subsequently transferred from Lafayette Parish and booked on one count of second-degree murder. His bond was set at $20 million. The case highlighted the tragic culmination of a long history of domestic violence, leaving a young child without her mother and a family mourning a senseless loss.
