A white man accused of shooting at three black men in a racially motivated attack following Hurricane Katrina pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday (Oct. 17), signaling a possible finale to a years-long legal battle.

Roland Bourgeois Jr., 55, abandoned his previous not-guilty plea as part of a deal with prosecutors, rather than face a trial that was set for Nov. 26.

Bourgeois’ case has dragged on for years. He was indicted five years after Katrina on allegations that he fired a shotgun at three black men in Algiers Point during the immediate aftermath of the storm. Since then, his trial was delayed over a dozen times amid questions about his physical and mental health.

Bourgeois appeared in court Wednesday. He stood before U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon in an orange jumpsuit with a silver cane supporting his frame and pleaded guilty under terms of a deal struck between Bourgeois and federal prosecutors.

https://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2018/10/suspect_pleads_guilty_to_racia.html