Zachary, LA – A gunshot during a Saturday night event in Port Hudson led to panic, resulting in the arrest of a suspect now facing murder charges. The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. during a concert and large ATV trail ride in a rural area off West Port Hudson Plains Road, with an estimated attendance of around a thousand individuals.
Following the arrest of 32-year-old Lamar Hall early Sunday morning, he was charged with first-degree murder and unlawful use of a firearm. Hall admitted to being involved in the shooting, attributing his actions to a purported “large shoot-out.”
The tragic incident claimed the life of 16-year-old Zachary resident La’Taurus Smith, as confirmed by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, two individuals sustained moderate-to-severe injuries, while others fleeing the scene incurred minor injuries.
Deputies and private security were present before the incident, as per the sheriff’s office, yet the situation escalated despite their presence. Investigators have extensively interviewed witnesses and recovered at least 20 expended bullet casings from the wooded area. Law enforcement personnel spent several hours clearing the area afterward.
Lamar Hall’s record includes nearly a dozen prior arrests in East Baton Rouge Parish since 2010, involving allegations of domestic abuse, armed robbery, evading officers, and weapon-related offenses. His most recent encounter with the law was in October 2022, leading to charges of fleeing from an officer and accessory after the fact, for which he was released on bond.
Details regarding La’Taurus Smith’s obituary and funeral arrangements are expected to be released by the family, as the community mourns the loss caused by the Port Hudson incident.
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