Nineteen-year-old booked on second-degree murder after Sunday gunfire at Towne and Country Shopping Center.
HAMMOND, La. — An 18-year-old was shot near a hair salon at the Towne and Country Shopping Center around 5 p.m. Sunday, and a 19-year-old is now in custody, police said. The victim, identified as Jermaine Stevenson Jr., later died at a hospital.
Hammond police said the suspect, identified as Kylan Green, left the immediate scene and called authorities from a nearby business, where officers arrested him without incident. Green was booked on second-degree murder and illegal discharge of a weapon. Detectives are gathering surveillance footage and witness statements to map the moments before the gunfire and to confirm how a fight escalated. The shooting unfolded as holiday shoppers moved through the center, prompting a surge of 911 calls and a rapid response that included officers securing storefronts while medics treated Stevenson.
Police said an acquaintance drove Stevenson to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The hair salon sits in a busy corner of the center, and several witnesses told officers they heard a single volley of shots before people ran for cover. Investigators did not release a motive. Green phoned police and reported he had shot someone, according to the department’s summary. Officers detained him near Main’s Market and recovered evidence; they did not specify how many shell casings were found. No other injuries were reported, and no additional arrests had been announced by Saturday.
Stevenson had recently graduated from Carver High School in New Orleans and was studying electrical engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, relatives said. His mother, Brittany Beale, said Stevenson knew Green from years earlier and described prior confrontations that left her son injured. Beale called the killing “senseless” and asked for accountability from all involved. Friends said the 18-year-old, nicknamed “Meatball,” was visiting Hammond over the Thanksgiving weekend and planned to get a haircut before returning to Lafayette for classes.
On Thursday night, community members and faith leaders met at Black Heritage Hall to discuss prevention efforts, including mentorship, after-school programs and neighborhood-based mediation. Organizers said they would compile recommendations for city leaders and plan a follow-up session. Police said their investigation is ongoing and involves reviewing video from nearby storefronts and checking whether earlier disputes between the teens played a role. Prosecutors will determine formal charges after screening the case file; a first appearance date was not listed in online records as of Saturday.
Outside the shopping center, small clusters of mourners gathered through the week, leaving flowers and candles near the salon. “We need structure and consistent support for our kids,” said Tasha Williams, who lives a few blocks away. A barber who works at the center said customers and staff were rattled but returned to work Monday. “People want to feel safe when they come here,” he said. “We’re hoping this was an isolated incident.”
As the investigation enters a second week, police said more witness interviews and lab reviews are scheduled. Community groups involved in Thursday’s meeting said they expect to share next steps in the coming days, while the court timetable for Green’s case remains pending.
Author note: Last updated December 6, 2025.