NEW ORLEANS — Two weeks into Domestic Violence Awareness month, tragedy struck at the Georgetown Apartments in New Orleans East.
“I was holding her hand, trying to tap her, then when she turned around and we saw the bullet hole,” one resident said.
Police say a woman was shot and killed Wednesday night during a domestic dispute.
When police arrested the suspect, 35-year-old Eric Gentris, they found a gun and his four-year-old daughter in the car.
“I’m still in shock,” the resident said.
The family tells WWL Louisiana the victim is Katelyn Howard.
According to court records, Howard and Gentris were in a years-long relationship with a violent past.
Just months before Howard’s murder, Gentris was arrested for allegedly breaking into her home and pushing her against the wall.
“I was horrified,” Executive Director of New Orleans Family Justice Center Dr. Trashanda Grayes said. “I’m always horrified when things like this happen.”
It’s something the Director of New Orleans Family Justice Center Dr. Trashanda Grayes sees often, relationships that start out rosy then go south fast.
“If they’re controlling and constantly calling you and texting you, it may seem flattering but it can be a red flag,” Dr. Grayes said.
She said leaving can be harder than it seems.
“You can’t say why they go back. It could be for a number of reasons, but most of the time we see it's because of financials or because of the kids,” Dr. Grayes said.
There’s one thing she wants victims like Howard to know. No matter how hard it is to leave, there’s always a way out.
“Help is available. You can come to our Office at the New Orleans Family Justice Center.
The number to the Louisiana Domestic Abuse Hotline is 888-411-1333.
Victims and survivors anywhere in the state can call the number to find help in their area.
The hotline is free and confidential. It is available 24/7.
DA Jason Williams released the following statement:
“While it would not be prudent to comment on the specifics of this case due to the ongoing prosecution, the public record indicates that prior to this homicide, during his last court appearance, this individual was rated a level 5 out of 6 risk for new criminal activity by the risk assessment tool used by the court to set bail. Additionally, at his bail hearing, he was a convicted felon and was wanted for failure to appear on open charges in Jefferson Parish, yet he was still allowed to be released on bail. His prior arrests for domestic violence, including a 2020 arrest for Domestic Abuse Battery-Victim Pregnant with a bond set at just $500, are available on the clerk of court’s Docket Master.
This tragic incident should serve as a call to action, urging the City to allocate substantial additional resources to combat domestic violence both inside and outside the courtroom. If you find yourself in an abusive situation, it is vital to understand that interpersonal or family violence rarely resolves or improves on its own. While it is often profoundly challenging for survivors, their cooperation with authorities throughout investigation and prosecution is essential to breaking the cycle of abuse and ensuring long-term safety and accountability. In this case, the defendant demonstrated a recurring pattern of domestic violence; yet tragically, there was also a pattern of victims, including his most recent, feeling too fearful for their safety to cooperate. Previous domestic violence charges involving this victim could not proceed because, like many others, she chose not to pursue charges—a difficult decision that is, unfortunately, common in abusive relationships both locally and nationally.
Our office will continue to seek justice for this victim and her child. We must also, as a city, invest in resources for the community so that individuals caught in cycles of domestic violence have safe places to turn, support systems to rely on, and means to maintain work and schooling, empowering them to pursue justice.
For context, we are also providing information on the defendant’s prior history under the past administration.”
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