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A man from Denham Springs has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder and two counts of simple burglary. Kejuan Kentrell Jenkins, 20, pleaded no contest to the charges and accepted the 40-year sentence with the support of the victim.
The investigation began in May 2021 when the Denham Springs Police Department started looking into a series of vehicle burglaries, with over 20 incidents reported daily. The suspects were described as two black males wearing hoodies and potentially carrying a handgun.
Simultaneously, the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office was investigating similar burglaries outside the city limits, as well as a shooting on Florida Blvd. During the course of their investigation, deputies were notified of a person being shot after their vehicle was burglarized. When they arrived at the scene, they found the victim lying on the ground with a neighbor providing aid.
According to the neighbor, they saw Jenkins walking away from a car with the door open, and a few minutes later, they heard a gunshot followed by screaming. They rushed to help the victim while another neighbor called 911. The victim explained that they had heard a noise outside their residence and saw someone in their vehicle leaning towards the glove compartment. When they confronted Jenkins, he shot them.
Further investigation led officers to an apartment where Jenkins may have been prior to the shooting. Inside, they found stolen items from the vehicle burglaries, including identification cards, medical cards, electronics, drug paraphernalia, narcotics, and an ankle monitor belonging to Jenkins. The ankle monitor connected him to the shooting.
Jenkins, who had previously been charged with second-degree murder, was arrested on May 21, 2021, and taken to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the cooperation of victims in bringing criminals to justice. The 40-year sentence sends a strong message that violent crimes will not be tolerated in the community..
