Shreveport man sought over alleged threat to officer found dead in Springhill apartment

SPRINGHILL, La. — A Shreveport man who was being sought by the Shreveport Police Department on allegations that he threatened a police officer was found dead Thursday afternoon at a Springhill apartment complex, hours after police publicly identified him as wanted.

Al Jewel Myles III, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene at Camelot Apartments around 4 p.m., according to Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd. Lynd said investigators determined Myles died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Lynd said officers recovered a Glock 9 mm handgun that was still in Myles' hand, along with an empty shell casing and a spent round.

Lynd said investigators considered additional evidence and circumstances surrounding the shooting in determining that the wound was self-inflicted. Some details were not released because of their graphic nature.

Myles' mother, Melissa Robinson, disputes that conclusion.

“I’m not sensitive right now when it comes down to this. I want full justice. My son did not kill himself,” Robinson said.

Robinson said she has questions about both the cause of her son's death and what happened before police arrived.

She said she learned of Myles' death through social media and was later told his vehicle had been taken from the scene. She eventually located the vehicle at Swan Lake Apartments in Bossier City, where she said it was still running with the radio on.

Lynd said Myles had only his cellphone with him when he was found and did not have identification.

Robinson said her son had two phones and that his wallet and car keys were not with him.

She said she first learned of his death through a Facebook Live video that a witness allegedly posted Thursday in an effort to identify the man who died and locate his next of kin. The video referred to him as "AJ" and said he was in Springhill.

As the video circulated, people began tagging Robinson and asking whether the man was her son. After confirming that it was Myles, Robinson said she began trying to determine what happened.

In an interview Friday, Robinson said she remains in contact with Springhill police and has spoken with Lynd about her son's death. She said Lynd confirmed to her that Myles died by suicide.

Lynd confirmed that Myles' body was sent to Little Rock for an autopsy.

Robinson said she was told by someone who was inside the Camelot apartment when the shooting occurred that Myles' vehicle had been taken by a friend. She said police later contacted her and told her the vehicle had been located at Swan Lake Apartments in Bossier City.

Robinson said she believes the person who left the scene in her son's vehicle is responsible for his death.

She also raised questions Friday about a photograph of her son's body that was circulating on social media. Robinson provided the photograph and questioned who took it and how it came to be shared online.

She pointed to a phone visible in the photograph and said the case on the phone appeared similar to the case that had been on her son's phone.

Robinson said she believes her son was set up and that someone else is responsible for his death.

It was not immediately clear who took the photograph, who first shared it or whose phone is visible in the image.

“I want to know the full story of what all happened in that apartment the day my son died,” Robinson said.

Another wanted man was at apartment

Lynd said Myles had traveled to Springhill with Jaden Eugene Hill, 19.

Other people were inside the residence when the shooting occurred, Lynd confirmed, adding that a witness told investigators Hill left before officers arrived.

“He didn’t hang around for us to get there because we have a warrant on him,” Lynd said. “So, he left.”

Hill was already wanted by Springhill police on a warrant stemming from an alleged July 2 shooting at Camelot Apartments, the same complex where Thursday's incident occurred.

According to the July arrest warrant affidavit, police began investigating after Bennie Holifield arrived at Springhill Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his lower back. Holifield was later airlifted to Ochsner LSU Health in critical condition.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed Holifield and Hill involved in an altercation at Camelot Apartments. According to the affidavit, the confrontation escalated into a physical fight and a struggle involving a firearm.

Holifield later told investigators he was shot during the confrontation and identified Hill as the person who shot him, according to the affidavit.

Springhill police subsequently obtained a warrant alleging Hill committed illegal use of a weapon during a crime of violence. The warrant carries a $125,000 bond.

Hill remained at large as of Friday.

The July warrant predates Thursday's incident, and the affidavit does not establish a connection between that case and Myles' death.

Shreveport police were seeking Myles

Earlier Thursday morning, the Shreveport Police Department publicly identified Myles as wanted on an arrest warrant stemming from a TikTok video in which investigators alleged he threatened to sneak up on and shoot a Shreveport police officer.

According to Shreveport police, investigators identified Myles as the person in the video. What appeared to be the grip of a firearm was also visible.

Myles was wanted on allegations of cyberstalking and threatening a public official.

Robinson said she wants to know the full story of what all happened in the apartment the day her son died.

The investigative report had not been released as of Friday and remains in the procedural stages.