District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on April 1, 2026, 23-year-old Megan Ayanna Coleman of Covington, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Judge Vincent J. Lobello for her role in the December 2023 shooting death of 23-year-old Juwarren Martin to manslaughter and obstruction of justice. Following her plea, Judge Lobello sentenced Coleman to 25 years of imprisonment at hard labor.
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The charges stem from a fatal encounter on the evening of December 26, 2023. Earlier that day, Coleman had been involved in a physical altercation with the victim’s sister at a tobacco store in Abita Springs. Seeking revenge, Coleman drove her co-defendant, Marrio Haynes, Jr., to a gas station in Lacombe, where they located Juwarren Martin.
As Coleman waited in the vehicle, Haynes exited armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired a single fatal shot into Martin’s torso from behind. Coleman then acted as the getaway driver, picking Haynes up a short distance away and later harboring him as he attempted to evade capture by law enforcement.
The case was a result of an extensive investigation led by Sergeant Hayden Folse of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Coleman’s guilty plea follows the January 2026 conviction of Marrio Haynes, Jr., who was sentenced in February to life in prison plus an additional 60 years.
The sentencing was marked by emotional testimony from the victim's family. A family member, speaking on behalf of the grieving relatives, addressed Coleman directly about the void left by Martin’s death.
“Our life changed December 26th,” the family member stated. “I’m not up here to belittle Megan. Juwarren is the victim here - and we all know that. One decision changed her life. You cannot compare the loss of life to someone going to prison. Every year on Christmas we recall our last day we spent with JuJu. We lost somebody...somebody we loved...cared for. All it took was one instance. My only hope is that you understand what has been done and learn from it. The only person that can throw that away is you.”
In handing down the sentence, Judge Lobello reflected on the avoidable nature of the crime, stating, “It’s sad and tragic all the way around. It’s the perfect illustration of how one or a couple of quick bad decisions can change so many lives.”
"Today’s plea and sentencing bring a final chapter of accountability to a senseless tragedy that claimed a young life," DA Sims said. "While Megan Coleman did not pull the trigger, her active participation - driving the shooter to the scene and facilitating his escape - was essential to this crime. Our community has no tolerance for those who help orchestrate violence. We hope this result provides the family of Juwarren Martin with further closure and peace."
Assistant District Attorneys Tiffany Dover and Shelby Stoop prosecuted the case. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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