Springhill police arrest man who traveled to city with Al Myles

SPRINGHILL, La. — Jaden Eugene Hill, 19, was arrested Tuesday in Bossier City on a Springhill Police Department warrant stemming from an unrelated July shooting at the Camelot Apartments, where Al Jewel Myles III was found dead last week.

Hill was not arrested or charged in connection with Myles' death, Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd said.

Bossier Parish jail records list Hill's primary charge as a fugitive arrest for Springhill police. Bossier City police are listed as the arresting and booking agency. 

Lynd said Springhill police provided Bossier City police with information about Hill's suspected whereabouts after receiving information that he might be in the area.

Myles' mother, Mellissa Robinson, said she learned where Hill was and notified Springhill police days before his arrest.

Hill had traveled from the Shreveport-Bossier area to Springhill early on Aug. 13 with Myles, according to Springhill police. Myles was found dead inside an apartment at Camelot Apartments just hours after the two arrived in the city.

At the scene, Lynd said Jerrica Brown told investigators that Hill left the apartment in Myles' vehicle before police arrived.

Hill was already being sought by Springhill police in connection with the July shooting at Camelot Apartments.

July shooting

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Bennie Holifield arrived at Springhill Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his lower back. He was later airlifted to Ochsner LSU Health in critical condition.

Investigators alleged surveillance video showed Holifield and Hill involved in a fight at Camelot Apartments that involved a firearm.

Holifield later identified Hill as the person who shot him, according to the affidavit.

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

The July shooting case and Hill's Tuesday arrest are separate from the investigation into Myles' death.

Myles' death remains disputed

Myles was pronounced dead shortly after 3 p.m. Aug. 13 at Camelot Apartments, Lynd said.

Lynd said investigators determined Myles died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He said authorities recovered a Glock 9mm 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 in reaching that determination.

Robinson disputes the 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 been trying to determine what happened inside the apartment since learning of her son's death.

She said the autopsy report lists Myles' death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but she believes someone else was responsible.

Brown previously told authorities that Hill left the apartment in Myles' vehicle before police arrived.

Robinson said police later told her the vehicle had been located at Swan Lake Apartments in Bossier City. When she went to the complex, she said she found the vehicle running with the radio on.

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

Robinson said Myles had two phones and that his wallet and car keys were missing.

This week, Robinson said she found Myles' wallet, second cellphone and smartwatch in the back seat of his vehicle.

Robinson also said she went to Brown's apartment Saturday and was allowed inside. She said she saw a blood-stained pillow and Myles' blood-stained white T-shirt in the room. She also said she found blood on the driver's seat and steering wheel of Myles' vehicle.

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

She also has questioned how a photograph of Myles' body came to be circulated on social media.

Robinson said she recently discussed her concerns with Lynd and was able to view photographs from the scene. She previously provided a photograph that she said showed Myles' body and questioned who took it and how it was shared.

It was not immediately clear who took or first shared the photograph.

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

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

Robinson said Hill contacted her after Myles' death and offered his condolences.

“Jaden called my phone the day after my son died. He offered me his condolences. According to him, my son shot himself after being given gummies,” Robinson said.

Robinson said she believes statements from Hill and Brown do not fully explain what happened.

“Jaden and Jerrica have both told me their stories and something is just doesn’t sit right with me about what is said to have gone on in that apartment. Then for Jaden to lie on me. He told Jerrica he left in my son’s car because I kept calling about bringing the car to me," according to Robinson. "That’s not true… And that was my son’s car not mine. … And at the time Jaden said all this to Jerrica I didn’t even know my son was dead.”

Robinson said she has recordings of the conversations.

”He left my son there to die, because when the police first arrived on the scene, my son was not dead , my understanding he was barely alive. … And Jaden left in my son’s car. He didn’t bring it to me. He left it at Swan Lake apartments and apparently jumped out of it so fast that he left the engine running and the radio on…,” she said.

Why Shreveport police were seeking Myles

Earlier Aug. 13, the Shreveport Police Department publicly identified Myles as wanted in connection with an alleged threat against a Shreveport police officer.

Investigators said Myles was identified as the person in a TikTok video in which the speaker allegedly threatened to sneak up on and shoot a Shreveport police officer. Police said what appeared to be the grip of a firearm was visible in the video.

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

The allegations involving Myles in Shreveport are separate from the circumstances surrounding his death in Springhill.

Hill has not been charged or arrested in connection with Myles' death.

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Read the full story at the Webster Parish Journal.