This past Saturday, a Washington Parish jury found 21-year-old Travon Washington of Hammond, guilty of Second-Degree Murder in the fatal shooting of X’Ykie Barker. The jury also found Washington guilty on related charges of Aggravated Burglary and three counts of Theft of a Firearm.
Elizabeth Authement and Jay Adair, two attorneys assigned to handle Career Criminal cases in the Felony Division, prosecuted the case. District Judge Ellen Creel presided over the trial.
Following the verdict, Interim District Attorney Sims said, "The results of this trial unequivocally show that we will not tolerate violent criminals coming into our communities and terrorizing our citizens. Prevailing in both homicide cases we took to trial this week in Washington Parish demonstrates that we will continue to fight for the safety and well-being of the citizens who deserve to live here unencumbered by violence."
On Monday, prior to the start of jury selection, one of Washington's co-defendants elected to plead guilty rather than face trial. Deanna Johnson was sentenced to 50 years in prison as a result of her plea to Manslaughter and Aggravated Burglary.
During the trial, prosecutors presented the jury with evidence that Deanna Johnson had suggested their group target X’Ykie Barker as part of a robbery. After arriving at Barker's home near Franklinton on August 28, 2021, the day before Hurricane Ida, Johnson went inside alone initially. He lured the victim outside where he was ambushed by Washington and two other men. Evidence collected by Louisiana State Police investigators showed 20 shots had been fired between two guns, beginning outside and following the victim through his home as he was pursued by his attackers.
The defendants fled the scene with guns, keys, and a gaming system all belonging to the victim. However, Washington crashed the vehicle less than a mile from Barker's residence and they were quickly apprehended by Washington Parish Sheriff's deputies, where they were found to be in possession of the victim's property and the murder weapons.
An I-watch recovered showed messages documenting the communications between the co-defendants just minutes before the homicide. Washington was found to have gunshot residue on him, and his DNA and fingerprints were on one of the murder weapons linked to the casings on scene by a firearms examiner. An autopsy showed that Barker sustained 8 gunshot wounds, including one to the heart and one to the head.
In closing arguments at the conclusion of the trial, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Authement rejected the defense argument that Washington had merely accompanied his friend from Hammond to Franklinton to buy marijuana. She told the jury, "Mr. Washington is obviously guilty of murder because he was participating in an aggravated burglary of the victim's home. But we have also proven that Travon Washington fired the final shot to X’Ykie Barker's head as X’Ykie lay on the ground. The callous nature of the pursuit of the victim through his own home tells us the defendant's intentions were far more sinister than a robbery-gone-wrong. They went there specifically to kill the victim."
The jury deliberated for approximately 90 minutes before reaching its verdict. Sentencing is scheduled next month on April 8. Second degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Investigators Corbet Hunt and Raymond Myers of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation. Members of the Louisiana State Police Crime lab also assisted in the investigation.
Washington is also awaiting trial for a separate charge of Second-Degree murder for the death of 14-year-old Taysia Folse in Tangiapahoa Parish.
