By Pat Culverhouse

A manhunt is underway for a Minden man wanted in connection with an early Wednesday morning shooting on Martin Luther King Dr. that put another local man in a Shreveport hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver said 28-year-old Jaryon Stephens has been identified as the shooter of Minden resident Ronnie Hemphill and is wanted on an active $500,000 warrant for attempted second degree murder. 

“We’re acting on several leads but he remains at large,” McIver said. “We are asking for information from the public to help us locate him. Anyone with information should call our regular number (318-371-4226) and speak to our dispatcher.”

Sgt. Jason Smith, head of the MPD special investigation unit, said public input can be helpful but individuals should not try to approach the suspect.

“He’s armed, he’s very dangerous and he’s probably scared. If you see him do not approach him. Call us right away,” Smith said. Stephens is 5’3” tall and was last seen running from the scene of the shooting, Smith said.

Smith said the incident occurred about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday when the victim drove to a residence in the 600 block of MLK to pick up some friends. While he was sitting in the vehicle, Stephens reportedly emerged from the darkness and began firing into the vehicle.

“The victim was struck eight times with bullets hitting him in the upper extremities and one in the upper torso,” Smith said.  “He managed to run about sixty feet from his vehicle to the residence where he collapsed.”

Hemphill was interviewed following his first surgery Wednesday and positively identified Stephens as the shooter, Smith said. 

“He was lucid and remembered everything. He picked the suspect from a photo lineup and even described the gun,” Smith said. “We also have other eye witnesses to the shooting.”

Smith said Stephens is believed to be armed with a 9 MM handgun with an extended 30-round magazine. “He has been seen with this weapon in the past,” he said. 

A motive has not been established for the shooting, but Smith said Stephens has been involved in two recents incidents that could point to the cause.

“A day after the recent ice storm, the suspect reportedly went the the victim’s home and shot his dog twice in the head but that was not reported to us at the time,” Smith said. “He also burglarized an apartment at the Mt. Calm Hamlet sometime Wednesday. That’s a place where he has hung out in the past.”

Stephens reportedly served a seven-year prison sentence on gun-related charges and had been released just last year. Smith said the suspect is also a habitual methamphetamine and marijuana user. 

“He was a dangerous criminal and still is a dangerous criminal,” Smith said. “And when you have that meth in your system you’re going to have to keep using or get sick. That can create a dangerous situation.”

Smith said there’s a good chance the suspect is still in the area. And though this is a small city, it’s often hard to track down a wanted person, he added.

“Minden is a small town but criminals can be hard to find because within some sections, the community is departmentalized. They might live in a subculture with friends who will want to help. They may be constantly shuffled from one residence to another, ” Smith said.

Smith said individuals should think carefully before helping the suspect avoid capture.

“If he’s in town, someone’s harboring him, and that is going to be costly,” he said. “If you are harboring him you will be charged to the full extent the law allows.”

 Tips have been coming in and all are being investigated, Smith said. Many prove untrustworthy, coming from individuals who are either seeking money or favors from the police. But, he added, there’s always the possibility that one of those tips will be the one that leads to an arrest.

“Just remember that if you do see the suspect, do not try to approach or apprehend him. We do not want to see any of our citizens harmed. Please call us,” McIver said.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named 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.