Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend Out on $20 Million Bail | Crime/Police

Police went to Howard’s home at 7:15 p.m. and found her shot multiple times. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene, and authorities soon identified Gentris as the suspect, according to court records.

At the time of the murder, there was a restraining order between Howard and Gentris, who was charged with home invasion against Howard in August. According to the order, Gentris was prohibited from possessing a firearm at the time of Howard’s death.

Documents New Orleans police filed in Criminal District Court revealed that Gentris also pulled a gun on Howard the week before he fatally shot him. In addition to a home invasion charge, he was also accused of assaulting Howard in February 2022, but the magistrate judge found no probable cause in the case, according to court records.

“Eric Gentris already had a restraining order and he ignored it when he committed the murder,” Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney Abigail McDonald said at Gentris’ court appearance Saturday. “The State asserts that the defendant is a great danger to the community, to his son … to his other children and to the mothers of those other children.”

McDonald then asked the court for a $20 million bond, which Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah granted.

Beth Sgro, the public defender representing Gentris, said McDonald’s request for $20 million bail was “performative” but adjourned the court on bail.

“It’s no different than a million dollars in terms of its effect on Mr. Gentris,” Sgro said.

McDonald’s presence Saturday was the first known appearance of the district attorney’s office in magistrate court in months after Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams withdrew his staff from the courtroom, citing allegations that magistrate judge Juana Lombard had treated prosecutors harshly. Lombard has since disagreed, saying Williams had been looking for a reason to prevent his administration from showing up at the first appearances.

Sallah on Saturday ordered Gentris to return to court Tuesday to sign an order of protection between him and his son. Attempts to reach Howard’s family for comment were not immediately successful.