NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans court has imposed a $150,000 bond on Ashley Gray, a woman accused of providing a false alibi and misleading detectives about the murder weapon in connection to her son’s involvement in a double homicide during a local parade last month. Gray faces charges of being an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder.
Authorities allege that Gray, 40, concocted a false alibi for her 19-year-old son, Curtis Gray, to shield him from murder charges relating to the deaths that occurred on November 17 during the Nine Times second line parade. Detectives claim she also obscured details regarding the firearm used in the killings, attempting to dissociate it from herself and her son.
The arrest occurred late Monday at Gray’s residence in River Ridge, following her son’s arrest on December 6. During investigations, she reportedly insisted that her son was with her throughout the parade, countering claims of his involvement in the crime.
However, prosecutors presented evidence contradicting her statements, including license plate reader data and cellphone records that indicated both mother and son attended the parade but in different locations. Specifically, data showed Curtis Gray near the crime scene on Almonaster Overpass near Florida Avenue, while Ashley was a few blocks away.
Further complicating the case, court documents reveal that Ashley Gray had texted her son about changing his phone number shortly after the incident, advising him, “you was with us anyway the [whole] time.” This text is part of what legal analysts believe forms a compelling body of evidence including misleading statements to police and physical evidence like the text messages themselves.
Joe Raspanti, a legal analyst, noted that such cases often involve close relatives or partners attempting to protect the accused, which can lead to severe legal repercussions. Ashley Gray risks up to five years in prison on her current charge, but could face more severe charges such as witness tampering or obstruction of justice, which carry substantially higher penalties.
The investigation further disclosed that the firearm, owned and previously seized then returned to Ashley Gray in February 2023, was identical to the one used in the double homicide. Despite claiming the gun was stolen from her car months earlier, Ashley Gray failed to report the theft and could not verify details concerning the incident.
Additionally, evidence involving confrontational footage of Curtis Gray with the victims before the shooting and data from jail phone calls link him not only to this crime but also suggest a broader context of a feud between rival factions from Westwego and Marrero.
Ashley Gray, who is currently represented by a conflict attorney through the public defender’s office, is scheduled for a court appearance in early February at the Orleans Criminal District Court.
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