Plea Spares Sunset Cop Killer From Death Sentence

SUNSET, La. (AP) — The St. Landry Parish district attorney says he's agreed to not pursue the death penalty against a man who agreed to plead guilty in the death of a police officer and another person.

Police said Harrison Lee Riley Jr. shot Sunset police officer Henry Nelson with Nelson's own weapon last August. Nelson had been called to try to calm a domestic disturbance.

Riley also fatally stabbed 40-year-old Shameka Johnson and was charged with trying to kill his wife, Courtney Jolivette Riley, and Johnson's sister, Shurlay Johnson.

KATC-TV reports that Riley has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two of attempted first-degree murder.

District Attorney Earl Taylor said in a Thursday news release he agreed to accept the plea, and a mandatory life prison sentence, after consulting with victims' families.

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