In the quiet community of Paulina, Louisiana, the evening of February 5, 2021, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 17-year-old Myron Mills Jr. An African American male, Myron was at a residence on Nicole Street when the fatal encounter unfolded. At approximately 9:16 p.m., the St. James Parish Sheriff's Office received a distressing 911 call from Myron's brother, who reported that his sibling had been shot.
Deputies were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement officers discovered the young victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the urgent response, Myron's injuries were too severe, and the St. James Parish Coroner's Office pronounced him deceased at the scene. The initial investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a primary suspect, 18-year-old Terrance Beckett. He was taken into custody and initially charged with second-degree murder.
As detectives delved deeper into the circumstances surrounding Myron's death, a more complex picture emerged. The investigation revealed that the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery. This led to the arrest of two more individuals, juvenile suspects aged 15 and 17, who were also implicated in the crime. The case against the primary suspect, now identified as 21-year-old Tarrence Beckett of Baton Rouge, was presented to a St. James Parish grand jury.
On April 27, 2021, the grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against Beckett, escalating the charges to first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Following the indictment, Beckett was booked into the St. James Parish Jail. The prosecution of the case was taken on by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, with an arraignment for Beckett set for May 4, 2021.
