Following a four-month investigation, Ruston Police have arrested three men for the drive-by shooting death of 18-year-old Haleei Newton.
Arrested in the case were Earnest G. Chatman, 19, of Simsboro; Jamion T. James, 19, of Grambling; and Emmanuel M. Seals, Jr., 18, of Ruston. All three were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center Thursday for second degree murder, attempted second degree murder, and obstruction of justice.
Chatman was already in custody at the detention center from an arrest on drug and gun charges stemming from an incident on the Grambling State University campus on September 17.
Haleei Andrena Newton graduated from Ruston High School May 21 with her family present to celebrate her accomplishment. Just over 75 hours later, Newton was shot as she and a male friend traveled eastbound on Interstate 20 between the Tarbutton Road interchange and the Louisiana Tech exit just after midnight Saturday, May 25.
A few days after the shooting, Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers said investigators had not identified any altercation or precipitating event that may have occurred prior to the shooting. However, he said it was unlikely Newton was a random victim.
Early in the investigation, police said someone fired into Newton’s 2009 Kia. One of the rounds went through the trunk and struck Newton, killing the young woman. A patrol officer near the interstate heard the gunfire.
The passenger in the car was not injured, according to RPD.
According to a statement sent out to some local media, RPD investigators “collected evidence and conducted several interviews, which ultimately led to arrest warrants being signed by a Third Judicial District judge on September 25 for three individuals determined to be involved.”
Bail for the men was set at $1.9 million each. Chatman’s bail is now $1.975 million with the GSU charges.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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