NEW ORLEANS — Ten years ago Donald Sheppard vowed that he wouldn't rest until he found justice for his son Ahmad, who was found bound with duct tape, gagged, and shot execution-style in the Lower Garden District.
On Friday, he finally got his wish. Orlean Parish District Attorney, Jason Williams announced that the suspect, Travis Cochran, was found guilty of murder and several other charges in the decade old case.
The DA said back in 2013, Cochran broke into and robbed a neighbor's apartment before breaking into Sheppard's home. He dragged Sheppard into his neighbor's apartment and tied him up before shooting and killing him.
"Travis Cochran had an option to stop before life was taken but he chose violence. He chose death," Williams said.
Cochran was indicted in 2015 and went through several delays before finally going to trial in 2019. But a mistrial delayed a verdict again. Five years later, after finally getting a guilty verdict, Sheppard's father said he feels liberated.
"I don't know what the future holds but I do know that I'm in a healing process," Donald Sheppard said. "My heart was shattered, and my eyes were full of tears but after hearing that verdict. The tears have been wiped away," he said.
Cochran faces a life sentence after this guilty verdict.
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