In the late summer afternoon of August 5, 2022, a dispute on Arkansas Avenue in Oakdale, Louisiana, escalated into a tragedy that would end the life of 25-year-old Anthony Rakestraw Jr. An argument between Rakestraw and another young man, 21-year-old Malcolm Pugh, took a violent turn when Pugh allegedly produced a firearm and shot Rakestraw. After the shooting, Pugh fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan, disappearing before law enforcement arrived.
Rakestraw, critically injured, was rushed to a local hospital by individuals who were at the scene. He fought for his life for three days before succumbing to his injuries on Monday, August 8, 2022.
Following Rakestraw's death, the Oakdale Police Department upgraded the initial charge against Malcolm Pugh from attempted second-degree murder to second-degree murder. A manhunt for Pugh was initiated, with the Allen Parish Crime Stoppers offering a cash reward for information leading to his whereabouts. Authorities cautioned the public that Pugh should be considered armed and dangerous. For weeks, Pugh remained at large, leaving a community in search of justice for the untimely death of a young man.
The search for Malcolm Pugh came to an end on September 6, 2022. Acting on a tip, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force located Pugh at a residence in Sulphur, Louisiana, where he was attempting to hide. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Calcasieu Parish Jail before being transferred to the Allen Parish Jail. Pugh was held without bond on the second-degree murder charge. Law enforcement officials also indicated that charges were expected to be filed against individuals who had assisted Pugh in his efforts to evade capture.
