Suspect in Sunset murders pleads guilty

The suspect to the of murders police officer Henry Andrus Nelson and Shameka Johnson on Aug. 26 in Sunset has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder with mandatory life in prison, St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor reported Thursday.
Harrison Lee Riley Jr. had been indicted on the charges as well as two counts of attempted first-degree murder, Taylor stated in a news release.
“Striving always to seek justice, I have met numerous times with the families of the victims. After much thought, discussion, and prayer on their part, it was unanimously requested by both families that if Harrison Lee Riley, Jr. would plead guilty to two counts of 1st Degree Murder, as well as guilty to the two counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder, they would ask that I not seek the death penalty,” the news release stated.
Taylor added, “This is one of the toughest decisions that I have had to make in my 19 years as District Attorney.”
Riley is also to plead guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, with a penalty of 50 years in prison.