In Kenner, Louisiana, a Sweet 16 party took a tragic turn on the night of November 4, 2017, ending in the death of 18-year-old Jontrell Wells. The male teenager was fatally shot outside the celebration, located at the corner of 6th and Compromise streets, shortly before 11 p.m. An off-duty police officer, who was working at the party, was alerted to a disturbance. As the officer went to investigate, gunshots were fired, and Wells was found at the corner.
He was given CPR at the scene but ultimately succumbed to his injuries at University Medical Center.
The violence reportedly erupted from an argument between two groups over a 'neighborhood rivalry'. Investigators found shell casings of multiple calibers at the scene, which led them to believe that there were additional suspects involved. The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and within a day, the Kenner Police Department had made its first arrest.
Seventeen-year-old Renee Holloway of Kenner was taken into custody and booked with second-degree murder in connection with Wells' death. The case saw further developments with the arrest of a 14-year-old, who was also booked with second-degree murder and held at the Rivarde Juvenile Detention Center. In an attempt to cover up the crime, Holloway's mother, 41-year-old Phaedra Robinson, was also arrested. She allegedly tried to help her son hide the gun used in the shooting. During a search of Robinson's room, detectives discovered magazines and bullets that matched the spent ammunition from the crime scene, although the gun itself was not recovered.
