In the late hours of a December night in Shreveport, Louisiana, the life of 25-year-old Donald Ray Young was irrevocably altered. Just before midnight on December 17, 2016, Young drove into the parking lot of a McDonald's on Kings Highway, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Emergency services were called to the scene, and he was quickly transported by ambulance to University Health hospital.
He arrived in critical condition, and for weeks, he fought for his life.
The Shreveport Police began their investigation that same evening. Authorities were able to gather information that swiftly led them to a suspect. Within hours of the shooting, police arrested 30-year-old John Chapman of Shreveport. Chapman was initially charged with Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Illegal Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm for his alleged role in the shooting.
Despite the medical care he received, Donald Young's condition worsened. On the evening of January 20, 2017, just over a month after the shooting, he succumbed to his injuries. Following his death, the charges against John Chapman, who remained incarcerated at the Caddo Correctional Center, were upgraded. The initial charge of attempted murder was changed to a charge of Second-Degree Murder, holding him responsible for the death of Donald Ray Young.
