LA - Pastor Ronald Harris, 53, shot to death in his Lake Charles church, 27 Sept 2013

[JusticeWillBeServed]

April 2018:

Two Karey jurors discuss verdict

In order to reach a verdict at least ten jurors had to agree. In the Karey case ten of twelve voted not guilty. One of those is 29 year old Kayla D. who felt Karey was very believable.

"When I saw him and looked at him during the trial I saw an honest, broken man who was pushed and had enough," Kayla.

Roger T. was one of two jurors who wanted to convict Karey.

"I don't think imminent danger was there because Pastor Harris was unarmed and when Mr. Karey walked in the church and shot him, I just can't see that," he said.

Roger says jurors who voted not guilty seemed to think that Ronald Harris being alive presented an ever present danger to the Kareys.

Karey not guilty verdict raises concerns in the community

The not guilty verdict for Woodrow Karey has come as a shock to many in the community, who wonder how someone can walk into a church, shoot someone in front of some 50 witnesses and be acquitted.

"He walked into a church that was having a revival and killed this man," said Cynthia Killingsworth, First Assistant D.A. for Calcasieu Parish. "We have lots and lots of witnesses that saw this."

She is concerned it sends the wrong message to the community.

"I'm very concerned about what this says to others," she said. "I'm extremely concerned about what this says to our community when members of our community think that it's okay to go into a place and kill somebody like this. I am shocked."