Terrytown man shot dead near his home

A 23-year-old Terrytown man shot dead early Thursday allegedly was slain by two Gretna men who "claimed they were purchasing illegal narcotics from the victim," said Col. John Fortunato, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Deputies found Prentis Perry facedown with multiple gunshot wounds in front of 518 Diplomat St. about 12:35 a.m., Fortunato said.

Authorities discovered Perry's body after responding to reports of gunfire in the residential neighborhood. Several 9 mm shell casings were found at the scene.

Investigators booked Quoc-Khoi "Anthony" Pham, 19, and Darius Edmonson, 20, with second-degree murder.

"Pham admitted shooting Perry multiple times after he became angry over Perry taking a magazine from his weapon," Fortunato said in an e-mail.

Pham has prior arrests for simple burglary. Edmonson has arrests for illegal narcotics, theft, possession of a firearm during a crime and status offenses, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Perry's family said his death was a surprise because he had been trying to turn his life around in the past two months. Perry pleaded guilty in September to theft and marijuana possession, and he was awaiting trial on a marijuana possession charge in New Orleans.

However, Trendtiss Perry said her nephew had recently been baptized at Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries in Algiers and had begun attending church services regularly. She said he had even brought some of his friends to church who were "in the street." Though he was unemployed, his aunt said he was taking classes to get his GED and learn how to be a contractor.

"He was a sweetheart. He never bothered nobody," Perry said. "Whoever did this killed a soldier. Anybody bringing somebody to church, they're doing God's work and they're a soldier."

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Allen Powell II can be reached at apowell@timespicayune.com and 504.826.3793.