Conviction Upheld In Young Girl’s Shooting Death

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A state appeals court has upheld a Kenner man's convictions stemming from the 2009 shooting death of a 7-year-old girl who was struck by a stray bullet while sleeping in her River Ridge home.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeal refused Thursday to overturn Roger Chairs' convictions on charges of second-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and obstruction of justice.

The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/X86Rs4 ) that Chairs opened fire on a group of rivals from the passenger's side of a car when his bullets missed their targets and struck a housing complex where Paige DeJean lived.

The girl was sleeping in the living room on an inflatable mattress when a bullet pierced the wall and entered her neck.

Chairs received a mandatory sentence of life in prison.