I-20 Shooting

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A shooting that occurred on I-20, resulting in the death of a female victim, has led to the arrests of three suspects. The shooting took place in May 2024. Officers from the Ruston Police Department (RPD) responded to reports of gunfire near Exit 84 on I-20. Upon arrival, they found a female who was unresponsive. The victim, identified as 18-year-old Halee Newton, was taken to a local medical facility where she succumbed to injuries reportedly caused by gunfire.

Following an investigation, which included gathering evidence and conducting interviews, arrest warrants were secured for three suspects. The warrants, issued on September 24, 2024, were swiftly executed. As a result, officers arrested 19-year-old Jamion James, 18-year-old Emmanuel Seals, Jr., and 19-year-old Earnest Chapman. The three suspects have been charged with Second Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and Obstruction of Justice. They were transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

There is a B.A.L.M. (a spiritual solution to a social problem) in Monroe and the U.S. This collaborative plan encourages citizens, elected and appointed officials, clergy, and organizations to participate in efforts aimed at improving the image of Monroe and the U.S. while inspiring at-risk males and females to take greater responsibility for their actions and respect the lives of others. This balanced approach seeks to reduce violent crime and the murder rate in Monroe, LA, and across the U.S. Praise God for law enforcement.

There are three sides to every story, and this was one side. The Monroe Dispatch welcomes the other or another side to this story.