Jury finds Marrero man guilty of 2022 murder
JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A Jefferson Parish jury found a Marrero man guilty of a 2022 murder on Tuesday, March 19.
Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick, Jr. said 30-year-old Ronald Newton was convicted of a first-degree murder of 23-year-old Earl Ellsworth.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies initially responded to reports of a disturbance at the 2400 block of Pasadena Avenue. When detectives arrived, they found Ellsworth unresponsive, suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Ellsworth was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court documents revealed that the killing was the end result of an argument between women earlier that day.
Newton’s girlfriend, mother and cousin were involved in a physical altercation.
Inmate accused of smuggling drugs after Girl Scouts Program with daughter at OJC
Newton’s cousin’s boyfriend punched Newton’s girlfriend in her head as she stood over Newton’s cousin, punching her.
Ellsworth was recording the fight but didn’t participate.
Newton was at work during the fight. His girlfriend called him to tell him about it. Newton was seen leaving his home holding a rifle in his left hand through his doorbell camera.
Newton went to his cousin’s home in the 2400 block of Pasadena Avenue, where his cousin lived with her boyfriend – the man who punched Newton’s girlfriend.
Ellsworth was in the apartment visiting the couple. When Newton arrived, his cousin looked through the front door peephole and saw him holding a gun.
They hid in the bathroom, while Newton’s cousin hid in the linen closet.
Newton kicked in the front door.
Ellsworth was attempting to insert a magazine into a pistol that Newton’s cousin owned in preparing to defend himself and his friends.
Newton shot Ellsworth once in the chest. In his last words before he died on the bathroom floor, Ellsworth told his friends, “Call police.”
“Earl Ellsworth got his hands on that gun to protect himself and the ones he loved. And Ronald Newton killed him for it,” Assistant District Attorney Brendan Bowen said in court, in closing argument.
Newton is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.
Latest Posts
Zion Williamson scores 36 as Pelicans send short-handed Pistons to 6th straight loss
Wind Advisory issued for New Orleans ahead of storms late Monday
Trump’s hush money case set for critical hearing over document dump
Is flying safe after recent headlines about panels and tires falling off planes?
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.