Prosecutors in central Louisiana have extended a formal plea agreement to an Alexandria woman facing a potential life sentence in connection with the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old girl and the wounding of the child's father. Under the proposed terms, the state would significantly downgrade the charges pending against the defendant in exchange for her direct cooperation and courtroom testimony against two co-defendants indicted in the same violent incident.
Kayla Leigh Wooten, 40, appeared on Monday in Rapides Parish before 9th Judicial District Court Judge Chris Hazel. Wooten was previously indicted on severe felony charges comprising second-degree murder along with attempted second-degree murder. A conviction on the primary murder charge carries a mandatory term of life imprisonment without the benefit of parole, creating substantial legal stakes for the defendant as the proceedings advance.
During the court session, Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Kelvin Sanders outlined the parameters of the state's proposed agreement. Sanders confirmed that the prosecution is willing to reduce Wooten’s second-degree murder charge down to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. In return, the state is requiring Wooten to deliver truthful testimony against her two co-defendants, identified as Latraykus Deroyce May and Deroyce May II.
The formal plea offer underscores a standard prosecutorial strategy in complex homicide litigation, where testimony from an insider or co-accused is leveraged to solidify convictions against other primary suspects. By proposing a reduction from a principal murder charge to a conspiracy offense, prosecutors aim to dismantle potential defense strategies and construct an ironclad narrative for the upcoming trials of the remaining defendants.
The violent incident at the core of the indictments took place exactly two years prior to Monday's court appearance, dating back to September 14, 2024. Emergency responders were dispatched to a residential property located within the 2900 block of Cypress Street in Alexandria, where gunfire erupted inside the family home.
The shooting resulted in the death of 12-year-old Hope Alexandria Coleman, whose life was cut short by the gunfire. The young victim’s father was also struck during the attack, sustaining severe and critical injuries that required extensive medical intervention. The tragedy sparked a multi-agency law enforcement investigation that culminated in grand jury indictments against Wooten and both May co-defendants.
Both Latraykus Deroyce May and Deroyce May II are facing the exact same indictment as Wooten, encompassing counts of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. The legal exposure for all three individuals remains exceptionally high, as state prosecutors prepare their evidentiary presentations ahead of the anticipated trial phase.
Represented by defense attorney Katharine Geary, Wooten did not immediately accept or enter a plea under the state's proposed arrangement during Monday’s appearance. However, Assistant District Attorney Sanders stated on the record that the plea offer will remain on the table, affording Wooten and her defense counsel additional time to evaluate their legal options and potential trial exposure.
In parallel with the plea discussions, the court also addressed ongoing matters concerning Wooten's pretrial detention conditions. The defendant had previously submitted a motion on her own behalf in early August requesting a substantial reduction of her bail, which was established at an amount exceeding $1.5 million following her arrest.
During Monday's proceedings, Geary formally adopted Wooten's self-filed bail reduction motion, integrating it into the official defense docket. Judge Hazel accepted the motion and scheduled a dedicated bond hearing for October 19, during which the defense is expected to argue that the current financial threshold is disproportionately high.
The October 19 date marks a critical juncture for the entire judicial proceeding in Rapides Parish. In addition to Wooten's scheduled bond reduction hearing, both Latraykus May and Deroyce May have their jury trials slated to commence on that very day, setting up a pivotal convergence of legal milestones for all parties tied to the fatal shooting.
The courtroom environment grew visibly emotional as Monday’s legal discussions reached their conclusion. As the hearing was brought to a close, Wooten began weeping openly before the bench. Prior to being escorted out of the courtroom by bailiffs, she turned toward the gallery where several supporters were seated, expressed her love to them, and blew them a farewell kiss.
The coming weeks will determine whether Wooten chooses to formally accept the state’s offer and become the prosecution's key witness, or proceed toward a high-stakes trial alongside her co-defendants. Should she accept the conspiracy charge, the resolution would significantly alter the legal trajectory of the case while reshaping the evidentiary landscape for the upcoming trials centered on the death of young Hope Alexandria Coleman.
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