Angie Man Faces Mandatory Life Sentence in Violent Crime Spree

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on June 28, 2024, a Washington Parish jury deliberated for 27 minutes before returning a series of guilty verdicts against 21-year-old Andrew Pernell of Angie relating to his violent crime spree of 2021. Pernell was convicted of Second degree murder,  Attempted second degree murder, Conspiracy to commit second degree murder and Assault by drive-by shooting. 

Assistant District Attorneys Tiffany Dover and Elizabeth Authement meticulously pieced together the compelling evidence during the trial, over which Judge Ellen Creel presided. The Bogalusa Police Department and the Louisiana State Police jointly investigated these crimes. Lt. Casey Hidalgo headed the investigation for Bogalusa PD and Investigator Stefan Montgomery spearheaded LSP’s investigative efforts. Prosecutors called more than 27 witnesses to the stand during the five-day trial. 

• Testimony established that on August 23, 2021, Pernell and two other perpetrators gunned down Bogalusa High School senior Aaron Brown as he walked home from school. Officers with Bogalusa Police responded to multiple 911 callers reporting gunfire in the area of Hickory Avenue and Dan Street. They found Brown face down in the street near Juliette’s Beauty Supply on Hickory Avenue. Brown had suffered numerous gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Eleven 5.56 caliber spent cartridges and two 9mm spent cartridges were located in the vicinity of Brown’s body.

• During the evening of September 15, 2021, just weeks after killing Brown, Pernell drove down Main Street in Bogalusa and paused to pull out an AK-47 and fire at least 18 shots at a residence  occupied by several adults and young children. Many of the projectiles struck the residence but, luckily, no one was injured.

• On the afternoon of September 20, 2021, Pernell concluded his crime spree by shooting a 13-year-old boy just after the boy had stepped off a school bus on Main Street in Bogalusa. After firing off nine shots, Pernell attempted to flee the area but wrecked his vehicle several blocks away.  Bogalusa police officers rushed to the scene and were able to quickly apprehend Pernell. After taking Pernell into custody, officers searched the surrounding area and recovered a 9mm handgun Pernell had discarded in some nearby woods. The young boy, who suffered multiple near-fatal gunshot wounds, was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment. Fortunately, the boy’s life was saved but he has had to undergo extensive rehabilitation. He successfully learned how to walk again despite lingering nerve damage to his leg. A ballistics expert confirmed the 9mm handgun found in the woods was the weapon used to shoot the boy. DNA analysis of the weapon revealed the presence of Pernell’s DNA.

During the course of investigating the young boy’s shooting, detectives executed a search warrant on Pernell’s residence. The search led to the recovery of an AK-47 from Pernell’s bedroom. A ballistics expert confirmed it was the weapon Pernell used during the drive-by shooting he committed back on September 15, 2021. Detectives also seized a cellular phone belonging to Pernell. Text messages recovered from the phone revealed how Pernell obtained the AR-15 he used to kill Brown and the AK-47 he used to accomplish the drive-by shooting. He utilized a strawman, Matthew Kennedy, to make the purchases for him so the weapons could not be traced to him. During their exchange of text messages, Pernell told Kennedy he needed the weapons because “I kill ppl”. Other text messages found in Pernell’s phone show him making efforts to sell the AR-15 after he killed Brown. He eventually sold it to an unknown individual for $500 but detectives were able to locate and recover it in Mississippi.

As part of the ongoing investigation of Brown’s murder, detectives also seized a cellular phone belonging to Jayden Brister, whom they had linked to Brown’s murder. Text messages recovered from Brister’s phone showed a steady exchange of messages between Pernell and Brister. On the day of Brown’s murder, the two laid out plans to engage in a shooting once students started walking home from Bogalusa High School after classes ended for the day. Pernell said he had an “AR” and needed “a body”. He went on to say that after he shoots someone with his AR, he intended to throw the weapon away. Brister responded they could catch “a body” walking home from school at around 2:30 pm.

During the trial, Pernell was seen making obscene gestures toward a juvenile witness present in the courtroom. When another witness was testifying, Pernell formed his hand into the shape of a gun. In closing arguments to the jury at the conclusion of the trial, ADA Tiffany Dover lamented “Kids deserve to be able to go to and from school without worrying about being executed.”

Upon hearing the jury’s guilty verdicts read aloud, Pernell responded by laughing. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison when Judge Creel sentences him, presently scheduled for September 5, 2024.

Angie Man Sentenced to Life Plus 50 Years For Violent Crime Spree in Bogalusa

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on August 5, 2024, Judge Ellen Creel sentenced 21-year-old Andrew Pernell of Angie after a jury convicted him in June on charges arising out of his 2021 violent crime spree in Bogalusa. At the conclusion of the 5-day trial, the jury found Pernell guilty of Second degree murder, Attempted second degree murder, Conspiracy to commit second degree murder and Assault by drive-by shooting.

Click here for previous related stories

Judge Creel sentenced Pernell to life imprisonment at hard labor without parole for the murder of Bogalusa High School senior Aaron Brown who was gunned down as he walked home from school. Judge Creel sentenced Pernell to 50 years in prison at hard labor without parole for the attempted murder of a 13-year-old boy who was shot just after stepping off a school bus on Main Street in Bogalusa. The court ordered both sentences to run consecutive to each other. Additionally, Pernell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 10 years in prison for the drive-by shooting with those sentences being ordered to run concurrent to the life and 50-year prison terms.

Assistant District Attorneys Tiffany Dover and Elizabeth Authement prosecuted the case, calling more than 27 witnesses to the stand during the trial. The Bogalusa Police Department and the Louisiana State Police jointly investigated these crimes. Lt. Casey Hidalgo headed the investigation for Bogalusa PD and Investigator Stefan Montgomery spearheaded LSP’s investigative efforts.

During the trial, Pernell was seen making obscene gestures toward a juvenile witness present in the courtroom and forming his hand into the shape of a gun when another witness was testifying. Upon hearing the jury’s guilty verdicts read aloud, Pernell responded by laughing. 

Bogalusa Police Charge 18 Year Old With Shooting of 13 Year Old

The following statement was released by the Bogalusa Police Department:

On Monday, September 20th, the Bogalusa Police Department was notified of shots fired in the 1100 block of Main Street with one subject hit by gunfire. Upon arrival, Officers discovered that a 13 year old child had been shot while walking down Main Street, shortly after getting off of the school bus. The child suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and responding officers rendered first aid until the arrival of emergency medical services. While officers worked the shooting scene, it was discovered that a single vehicle crash had occurred on Main Street at North Avenue, a short distance from the scene of the shooting. Officers learned that a male subject had exited the vehicle and fled on foot. After a brief search, Officers encountered the subject on the area of Columbia and East 6th Street and he was taken into custody. The child was transported by ambulance to the Emergency Room, and later flown to a trauma center.

Based on information obtained during the initial investigation, the subject apprehended due to the vehicle was crash was considered a suspect in the shooting, but there were no eye witnesses to the shooting and no firearm was recovered. The suspect, Andrew Pernell, 18 years of age, was identified as the driver of the crashed vehicle and was charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, and resisting an officer. Pernell denied any involvement in the shooting. He was booked into the Bogalusa City Jail and the investigation continued. On Tuesday, September 21st, Detectives located a 9mm handgun near the scene of the vehicle crash, believed to be used in the shooting. Other evidence was also obtained linking Pernell to the shooting. On Tuesday evening, Detectives charged Pernell with Attempted Second Degree Murder, Illegal Use of Weapons, and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.

The victim sustained serious injuries, but is currently in stable condition.

The investigation into Pernell’s activities continues. Anyone with any information involving this latest shooting is asked to call the Bogalusa Police Department or Crime Stoppers.

Three Charged in 2021 Murder of 18 Year-Old Aaron Brown in Bogalusa

On February 14, 2023, after an extensive investigation, conducted by the Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division, in conjunction with the Bogalusa Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, arrests were made in the August 23, 2021 murder of 18 year old Aaron  Brown. Brown was murdered on the corner of Dan Street at the intersection of Hickory Avenue shortly after getting off of the school bus. Click here for a previous related article

Andrew Pernell, who was 18 years old, was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on the charges of First Degree Murder, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, and Fraudulent Purchase of a Firearm.

Matthew Kennedy, who was in his mid-20’s, was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on the charges of Principle to First Degree Murder, and Fraudulent Purchase of a Firearm.

A Juvenile, who was approximately 17 years old at the time of the murder was booked into the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center on the charges of First Degree Murder and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder.

The Bogalusa Police Department administration wishes to send condolences to the family of Aaron Brown. The Bogalusa Police Department administration also thanks detectives with the Louisiana State Police and with the Bogalusa Police C.I.D. for all the hard work and long hours put into solving this matter.

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for September 22, 2021

Andrew Pernell (Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities, Possession of Firearm With Obliterated Serial Number, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Resisting an Officer, and Failure to Report Accident by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Jamichael Spikes (Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering, Illegal Carrying of Weapon, Carrying Firearm/Weapon on School Property, and Resisting an Officer by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Cody Young (Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Resisting an Officer, Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, and Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set a this time.