EDGARD — One of two men charged following a violent shootout in May 2014 that sent two people to the hospital, one with a gunshot wound to the head, was sentenced to 18 years at hard labor.

St. John the Baptist Parish District Attorney Bridget Dinvaut said Jontrell Cosey, 24, of Reserve pleaded guilty Nov. 18 to aggravated battery and aggravated criminal damage to property.

According to Dinvaut, Cosey’s plea came after two days of testimony in front of a 12-person St. John Parish jury, which was presided over by Judge Mary Hotard Becnel.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Cosey and Kody Duhe of Garyville in connection with the double shooting on East 13th Street in Reserve.

Cosey was originally booked with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property. Duhe was originally arrested and booked with principal to attempted second-degree murder and aggravated second-degree battery.

Following the shooting, a 20-year-old victim shot in the head was taken to University Hospital for medical treatment, where he spent time in intensive care and on a ventilator.

Authorities said a second shooting victim, a 15-year-old male, was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for medical treatment for a gunshot wound to his lower leg.

“It seems to be another case of young people who can’t seem to coexist,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said a week after the shooting, adding tensions had been high and violence escalated between young people in Reserve and Garyville during that time period.

Dinvaut said, at the request of the victim and his family, a plea offer was extended to Cosey  “in order to bring closure to the family.”

Cosey accepted the prosecution’s offer of 18 years with the Department of Corrections —10 years for aggravated battery, plus eight years for aggravated criminal damage to property.

The sentences will run consecutively.

Duhe is awaiting trial for his involvement in the shootings.

According to Dinvaut, the trial came with some complications as lead prosecutor Assistant District Attorney J. Philip Prescott Jr. had to treat some witnesses as hostile witnesses, and warrants had to be put out to get other witnesses to come to court.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Richard assisted the prosecution.