Lashanna Ward-Johnson, 24, was shot and killed inside her Opelousas, Louisiana, home just after 1:00 a.m. on June 3, 2017. She had spent the evening with family, attended her oldest child’s kindergarten graduation and later ate with loved ones.

Police arrived after an emergency call that initially claimed a homeowner had fired at an intruder. That story changed at the scene: Lashanna was the person shot and her husband, Daniel E. Johnson, said he had mistaken her for an intruder. Forensic testimony documented five gunshot wounds, including injuries to the neck and body, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide caused by blood loss and aspiration of blood.

A grand jury indicted Daniel E. Johnson for second-degree murder on August 29, 2017. A jury later convicted him of second-degree murder in April 2021 and he received life imprisonment at hard labor without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence; the Louisiana Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction in February 2022. If anyone knew Lashanna or has information about that night, please share what might help investigators or family closure.