Suspect named in abuse claims
Four other women claimed in court documents that a man who is wanted in the Wednesday shooting death of his girlfriend and the wounding of her niece was abusive to them as well.
The four women were issued protective orders against Devon T. Livous, 28, between 2005 and 2011, East Baton Rouge Parish clerk of court records show.
The Advocate is not naming the women since Livous is still wanted in the slaying of Raolatu Alowonle, 28, and the wounding of Alowonle’s 11-year-old niece.
Alowonle and the girl were shot just before 5 p.m. Wednesday while walking on the sidewalk at 1844 Ryder Drive, police have said.
Alowonle succumbed to gunshot wounds at a hospital, Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
The girl, who was shot in the leg, is in stable condition and is expected to survive.
There are no records with the Clerk of Court’s Office that indicate Alowonle had requested a protective order against her alleged shooter and boyfriend. An order requested by another woman on June 22, 2011, however, was still in affect Wednesday and won’t expire until Jan. 27, 2013.
The woman, who was issued the order, said in her petition for protection that Livous threatened her for not returning his phone calls.
On one occasion, she said, Livous threw two bricks through the front window of her car while she was inside of the vehicle.
The woman also claimed in the petition Livous stalked her and pushed her while she was pregnant.
Another woman, who was issued the most recent protective order on Sept. 22, 2011, said in her petition that Livous stalked and threatened her on several occasions. Her order was dismissed in November after she failed to appear for a hearing.
The women who requested the other two orders made similar allegations of abuse, the petitions show.
Livous served two stints in Parish Prison in 2006 and 2007 for violating a protective order issued in 2005, court records show.
His first trip to the jail was for 90 days and his second was for six months.
Alowonle’s sister, Tootie Alowonle, said Thursday her sister had only been dating Livous for a few months when she was killed and he had been violent to her previously.
She said Livous pushed and shoved Raolatu Alowonle in front of her sister’s 7-year-old son just a few weeks ago.
The victim’s landlord, Gregory Carter, said he was called about the same time to repair Alowonle’s back door after she said her boyfriend kicked it in and assaulted her.
“He just didn’t want to turn her loose,” Carter said.
Raolatu Alowonle’s brother, Matthew Cohenotti, who lives in North Dakota, said his sister was contemplating marrying Livous.
“As far as I knew, they were happy,” he said by telephone. “I was not aware of any violence.”
Cohenotti said he spoke to his sister by phone often but hadn’t seen her since their mother’s funeral in 2004.
“She always tried to look for the best in everybody,” he said. “Maybe that’s what she was trying to do with him.”
Tootie Alowonle, who lived around the corner from her sister, said Raolatu was a wonderful mother, sister and friend.
“She was a woman of God,” she said. “She is going to be missed by everyone.”
McKneely said police are searching for Livous and are following leads regarding his whereabouts.
Police are encouraging anyone with information about where Livous is hiding to contact police at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.