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Jelani Cousin, left, is accused of killing Ashlei Hinds, right. (Screenshots via Washington’s NBC affiliate WRC-TV/YouTube)
An 18-year-old man kicked out of a hotel New Year’s Eve party in a Washington, D.C., hotel was arrested after authorities say he fired a bullet through a closed door, killing an LSU student home for the holidays.
Jelani Cousin faces a charge of second-degree murder while armed in the death of Ashlei Hinds, authorities said.
Cousin was at a party at the Embassy Suites Hotel when he was asked to leave after he made sexual advances to a woman who was not the victim, the Washington Post reported, citing a police affidavit. He allegedly said he’d “blow this spot up” as he was leaving and before opening fire.
Police responded at 1:18 a.m. and found Hinds dead. Police circulated images from surveillance video showing Cousins, who surrendered on Tuesday, police said in a news release.
Cousin pleaded not guilty to the charges in court this week. His defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, said no witnesses saw him fire a gun, and no gun was recovered, the Post reported.
Hinds’ mother, Tiffany Falden, remembered her fondly.
“Just loving, caring, a great heart, loves children, loves her family. [She was] just an all-around good girl. Never been in trouble a day in her life,” she said, Washington’s NBC affiliate WRC-TV reported.
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Her grandmother Sandra Thomas called her amazing.
“I mean, there was nothing that she didn’t want to try, you know,” she said. “She was always willing to help everybody. And sometimes she would tell me, ‘I’ll do that for you, Nana,’ or, ‘Let me get that,’ ‘Need me to help?’ She was always willing to help.”
Her grandfather Rev. Kenneth Thomas Sr. told the Post, “She was the sweetest thing this side of heaven.”
He said his granddaughter “had big dreams and big plans. And we had big dreams and big plans for her. And now she’s gone. And for what? Because somebody was being stupid. And this city tells these kids they can be stupid, and that nobody is going to be held accountable. It’s shameful.”
In a statement, LSU said the loss deeply saddened them.
“This is a tragic loss for Ashlei’s family, friends, and our entire university community,” it read. “Our hearts are with Ashlei’s loved ones during this difficult time, along with our thoughts, our prayers, and our support.”
