News Summary
A 20-year-old man, Jerroy Johnson, has been arrested for the murder of Ashley Aples, a Jefferson Parish corrections deputy, following a shooting incident. Johnson faces multiple charges including second-degree murder and aggravated battery. His prior ties to another shooting and the inadequacies in monitoring systems raised questions about law enforcement practices. The community is mourning Aples’ loss and organizing a vigil in her honor.
New Orleans – Jerroy Johnson, a 20-year-old man, has been arrested in connection with the murder of Jefferson Parish corrections deputy Ashley Aples, identified as a victim in a June 22 shooting. Johnson faces a second-degree murder charge along with additional accusations of aggravated battery following his apprehension on June 26. He is currently held with a total bond set at $1 million for murder, $250,000 for a weapons charge, and a separate amount for aggravated battery.
Aples, 43, was discovered fatally shot in the early hours of June 22 on Morrison Road in New Orleans East. Police officers found her at approximately 2:40 a.m. after responding to reports of a man down in the 5600 block of Morrison Road. Detectives linked Johnson to the crime scene through evidence from an ankle monitor, raising significant questions about the management of this monitoring system prior to his arrest.
A critical piece of the investigation stems from Johnson’s prior engagement with the criminal justice system. He had been connected to another shooting incident on June 1, 2025, also on Morrison Road. Surveillance footage initially identified him as a suspect in the June 22 murder, but law enforcement’s failure to check available monitoring data delayed his capture. Johnson was under an ankle monitoring program since July 2024, though the monitor had been issued by a bail bondsman rather than mandated by a judge.
Investigators later discovered that the monitoring system called ‘Track,’ designed to keep tabs on ankle monitoring participants, was not accessible to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) at the time of the initial investigation. This decision hampered their ability to quickly gather information on Johnson’s whereabouts. Detectives were only informed on June 25 that they needed to physically visit the ASAP Ankle Monitoring office to retrieve Johnson’s monitoring data.
Following a visit to ASAP, detectives learned Johnson had been present at the scene of both the homicide and the June 1 shooting. This critical breakthrough led to a coordinated effort by the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement to locate and apprehend Johnson, resulting in his arrest in Slidell, Louisiana.
Upon his arrest, Johnson was initially held as a fugitive for the aggravated battery by shooting warrant. He was later charged with murder once he was extradited back to New Orleans. The incident has prompted the NOPD to reevaluate its collaborations with monitoring partners, as officials aim to improve accountability and transparency in tracking individuals on supervised release.
In the wake of this tragic event, friends, family, and community members are organizing a vigil to honor Ashley Aples. The vigil is scheduled for July 2 at the Mardi Gras Fountain located on the New Orleans Lakefront. Community support during this challenging time underscores the profound impact Aples had on those around her and the ongoing need for dialogue on public safety and law enforcement practices.
This investigation remains ongoing, as authorities continue to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the management of ankle monitors and the existing gaps in communication between law enforcement and monitoring service providers. The NOPD remains committed to making improvements to ensure timely information sharing in future cases.
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Additional Resources
- WDSU: New Orleans Police Arrest Man in Connection with Deputy Killing
- Wikipedia: Criminal Justice System
- WGNO: Man Accused in Two New Orleans June Shootings Arrested
- Google Search: Ankle Monitor Criminal Justice
- NOLA: Homicide Arrest in New Orleans Shooting
- Google Scholar: Tracking Ankle Monitors in Criminal Justice
- FOX 8: 19-Year-Old on Ankle Monitor Arrested in Fatal Shooting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Crime
- Newsweek: Man Admits to Shooting Girl and Burying in Backyard
- Google News: Public Safety New Orleans
