23-Year-Old Louisiana Felon Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison After Investigators Locate Firearm in His Vehicle During Shooting Investigation

New Orleans, Louisiana – A 23-year-old Louisiana felon is facing up to 15 years in prison after investigators located a firearm in his vehicle during a shooting investigation.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Shamar Holmes, age 23, of New Orleans, Louisiana pled guilty on May 11, 2023, before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to a one-count indictment alleging that he illegally possessed a firearm having previously been convicted of a felony.

According to court records, Holmes was driving on Interstate 10 at the Claiborne Avenue exit in September 2022 when another vehicle opened fire on him. Holmes was shot multiple times and rushed to the hospital. When officers from the New Orleans Police Department arrived to investigate, they seized the automobile as part of the shooting investigation. During a vehicle search, investigators discovered a Glock, Gen. 22, 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Holmes had already pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, a felony, in Orleans Parish in January 2022, and was thus barred from having firearms at the time of this event.

On August 17, 2023, Holmes will be sentenced. He faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment charge of $100.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.