NEW ORLEANS — The girlfriend of the alleged shooter who killed a woman Wednesday was booked with manslaughter Friday night, after being offered a low bond and released Thursday, according to NOPD officials.
18-year-old Byrielle Herbert was allegedly in the getaway car used in the fatal shooting of 62-year-old Zelda Townsend this week. She's the girlfriend of 17-year-old Emanuel Pipkins, who allegedly broke into Townsend's car and shot her and her husband when they came outside to see what was going on.
Pipkins appeared in court Thursday and is now being held on a $750,000 bond for second-degree murder.
Herbert also appeared in court, but not initially on charges connecting her to the killing. On Thursday, she was booked on illegal possession of stolen things. The alleged stolen thing was the getaway car used in the shooting.
The judge set a $2,500 bond for that charge, then issued a release on recognizance letting her out for free.
On Friday evening, however, the NOPD announced Hebert had been re-booked on one count of manslaughter, as well as two burglary charges, in connection to the killing in the 2700 block of Cleveland Avenue
Manslaughter carries up to 40 years upon conviction.
Hebert's initial charge created questions about her sentencing and charging process.
"The general public would say 'why such a low bond when the gist of the report says that she was in the stolen vehicle,' she knew it was a stolen vehicle," said Chick Foret, Eyewitness News legal analyst.
NOPD could did not comment on why they did not book Herbert with greater charges initially. Foret has his own speculations.
"Maybe, just maybe, she filled in some of the blanks for the police department," Foret said.
According to the Chief Judge at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, when setting bond, the judge had to make a decision based strictly on her illegal possession charge and the summary report which does mention the car was used in the homicide. The suspect has no criminal history and was low risk.
There was no one from the District Attorney's office present at the hearing to offer more information. The DA hasn't staffed afternoon bond hearing for a year because of budget cuts.
"The weak link in the chain occurs when there's no prosecutor in the court room to fill in the blanks," Foret said.
Ramon Antonio Vargas with the New Orleans Advocate contributed to this report