Hammond teen booked with murder of Arkansas tourist during alleged carjacking

August 23, 2024

HAMMOND, La. (WVUE) - Tangipahoa Parish deputies arrested a Hammond teen in connection with the shooting death of an Arkansas tourist during an alleged carjacking Saturday (May 6).

Deputies responded around 8 a.m. to the Red Roof Plus on Puma Drive in Hammond after it was reported a person had been shot. They found 62-year-old Paul Holt of Arkansas with a gunshot wound to the chest. Police say Holt was carjacked and shot while he and his wife entered their vehicle.

The TPSO said Holt and his wife were approached by an armed, masked man -- later identified as 18-year-old Ladarrius Evans of Hammond. Holt attempted to stop Evans from driving away with Holt’s wife in the passenger seat and successfully aided his wife’s escape. But deputies said Evans shot the unarmed Holt, then fled in the couple’s SUV.

Holt died from his injuries at North Oaks Hospital. Holt and his wife had traveled to Louisiana as part of a birthday celebration, where Holt was to turn 63 on Sunday.

Deputies located the stolen vehicle and Evans later in the day. He was found to be in possession of items belonging to the victims as well as the clothing and other items used to perpetrate the murder and carjacking. Included in those items was a “Ghost Gun” with a Glock Switch.

He was arrested and booked into Tangipahoa Parish Jail with first-degree murder, carjacking, possession of unidentifiable firearms, armed robbery with a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

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