Guard will not face jail time in grandson’s gun death

NEW ORLEANS – A New Orleans security guard whose 3-year-old grandson was killed when a handgun under her pillow went off while both slept will not face any jail time.

NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports 44-year-old Deonca Kennedy pleaded guilty Thursday to negligent homicide in the Jan. 20, 2016 death of the toddler. Criminal District Judge Ben Willard then ordered a suspended 5-year sentence, which she will not serve unless she violates the terms of her parole. Willard says Kennedy will be on parole for five years.

Kennedy was joined in court by a handful of supporters. She did not make a statement as she stood before the judge to enter the plea and receive her sentence. After the hearing, she declined to comment.

The only comment Willard made was, “Good luck to everybody.”

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.nola.com