A Jefferson Parish jury on Friday found Lavanta Carto guilty of second-degree murder and related charges in the August 2024 shooting that killed 21-year-old Andrew Davis IV in Harvey. Prosecutors said the deadly encounter in the Westchase/Manhattan Boulevard area started as a planned armed robbery. Jurors deliberated for nearly three hours before returning the verdict, and Carto is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7.
According to NOLA, Carto was convicted on counts including second-degree murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Court records reviewed by the outlet show jurors reached the verdict after almost three hours of deliberation. The report was published June 12, 2026.
Davis was 21 when he was fatally shot on Aug. 17, 2024, after stopping at an apartment complex, according to reporting at the time. Family members told WDSU that he had been on his way to pick up his 2-year-old son and was known as a peacemaker in the family. The killing sparked a lengthy investigation that pulled in surveillance footage, witness interviews and public tips.
How Prosecutors Say It Unfolded
Prosecutors told jurors that Carto conspired with 22-year-old Dekias Stevenson to rob Davis at gunpoint, and that Stevenson later sold a .40-caliber pistol tied to the case to accomplice Joshua Tumbar, according to NOLA. Court records reviewed by the outlet say Tumbar paid roughly $500 in marijuana for the weapon and has since been sentenced to seven years, while Janisha Hymes pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and received a 2½-year sentence.
Family statements included in the report say Carto is scheduled to be sentenced July 7, 2026. After the verdict, family member Tamara Arnold told reporters, "[The verdict] will not bring him back, but it feels like justice," adding that she felt "a little lighter" after the jury's decision.
The case also drew attention from community groups and Crimestoppers. In November 2024, Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans increased the reward for information, which reward raised to $10,000 to help track down Carto in the Harvey fatal shooting. Authorities say a mix of tips and legwork over the following months helped them piece together surveillance and witness accounts that prosecutors later laid out at trial.
What Comes Next
Carto is due back in court for sentencing on July 7, 2026, when a judge will set his prison term and hear victim-impact statements. Prosecutors have said they will seek a significant sentence given the circumstances of the killing, while the defense is expected to present mitigation at the hearing. Officials also said the investigation remains open as authorities follow up on any outstanding leads.
For Davis' family, the verdict brings a measure of accountability after nearly two years of waiting. Relatives said they remain overwhelmed but relieved that the jury found a defendant guilty in a case that took a young father from his son.
