By Tiffany Flournoy
Jerry Strahan contributed to this article.
SPRINGHILL, La. — A Shreveport man who was being sought by the Shreveport Police Department on allegations that he threatened a Shreveport police officer was found dead Thursday afternoon at a Springhill apartment complex, hours after the department publicly identified him as wanted.
Al Jewel Myles III, 21, of Shreveport was pronounced dead at the scene at Camelot Apartments around 4 p.m., according to Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd. Lynd said police determined Myles died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Lynd said he 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 surrounding the shooting in reaching their determination that the wound was self-inflicted. Some details were withheld from publication because of their graphic nature.
Myles’ mother, Melissa Robinson, disputes that 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’s questions extend beyond the cause of death. She said she learned of her son’s death through social media and was subsequently told his vehicle had been taken from the scene. She later located the vehicle in Bossier City, where she said it was still running with the radio on.
Lynd said Myles “only had his phone on him” when he was found. He did not have identification on his person.
Robinson said her son had two phones. She also said his wallet and car keys were not with him.
Robinson said she first learned of her son’s death through a Facebook Live video that a witness allegedly posted Thursday in an effort to identify the deceased and help locate his next of kin. The video referred to the deceased as “AJ” and said he was in Springhill.
As the video circulated, people began tagging Robinson and asking whether the man identified as AJ was her son. After confirming it was Myles, Robinson said she began trying to piece together what had happened.
In an exclusive interview Friday, Robinson shared her concerns about her son’s death and the questions she has surrounding the circumstances of the shooting.
Robinson said she was preparing to travel from Shreveport to Springhill with questions for anyone who might know something about the incident.
Robinson said she remains in contact with Springhill police and has spoken with Lynd about her son’s death. She said Lynd also confirmed to her that Myles died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Lynd confirmed Myles’ body had been sent to Little Rock for an autopsy.
Robinson said that after learning of her son’s death, she was told by someone who was inside the Camelot apartment when the incident occurred that Myles’ vehicle had been taken by a friend. She said police later contacted her and told her the vehicle had been located at Swan Lake Apartments in Bossier City.
Robinson said she went to the complex Thursday and found the vehicle still running, with the radio on. She recorded video when she arrived, documenting what she found.
Robinson said she believes the person who left the scene in her son’s vehicle is responsible for her son’s death.
Robinson said Friday that her son’s body was expected to return to a Shreveport funeral home around 8 p.m. Friday. She said she plans to lay him to rest sometime this coming week.
Robinson called me during a follow-up conversation Friday afternoon and raised another concern: A photograph of her son’s body was circulating on social media. She provided the photograph directly to me and questioned who took it and how it came to be shared online.
Robinson also pointed to a phone visible in the image and said the case on the phone displaying the photograph looked like the case that had been on her son’s phone.
Robinson said she believes her son was set up and that someone else is responsible for his death.
It was not immediately clear who took the photograph, who first shared it or whose phone is visible in the image.
“I want to know the full story of what all happened in that apartment the day my son died,” Robinson said.
Lynd said Myles had traveled to Springhill with Jaden Eugene Hill.
Other people were inside the residence when the shooting occurred, Lynd confirmed.
Lynd said a witness told investigators that Hill had left the scene before police arrived.
“He didn’t hang around for us to get there because we have a warrant on him,” Lynd said. “So, he left.”
Hill, 19, was already wanted by Springhill police on a warrant stemming from an alleged July 2 shooting at Camelot Apartments, the same complex where Thursday’s incident occurred.
According to the July arrest warrant affidavit, police began investigating after Bennie Holifield arrived at Springhill Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his lower back and was later airlifted to Ochsner LSU Health in critical condition.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed Holifield and Hill involved in an altercation at Camelot Apartments. According to the affidavit, the confrontation escalated into a physical fight and a struggle involving a firearm.
Holifield later told investigators that he was shot during the confrontation and identified Hill as the person who shot him, according to the affidavit.
Springhill police subsequently obtained a warrant alleging Hill committed illegal use of a weapon during a crime of violence. The warrant carries a $125,000 bond.
Hill remained at large as of publication time.
The July warrant predates Thursday’s incident. The affidavit does not establish a connection between the July case and Myles’ death.
Shreveport Police sought Myles
Earlier Thursday morning, the Shreveport Police Department publicly identified Myles as wanted on an arrest warrant stemming from a TikTok video in which investigators alleged he threatened to sneak up on and shoot a Shreveport police officer.
According to the department, investigators identified Myles as the person in the video. What appeared to be the grip of a firearm was also visible.
Myles was wanted on allegations of cyberstalking under La. R.S. 14:40.3 and threatening a public official under La. R.S. 14:122.2.
The Shreveport Police Department urged Myles to turn himself in and asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Robinson said she loves her son and wants answers.
“I want to know the full story of what all happened in that apartment the day my son died,” Robinson said.
The investigative report had not been released as of Friday and remains in the procedural stages.
This is a developing story.