In a tragic turn of events on a Saturday night in Springhill, Louisiana, Norman Evans Jr., a Black male reportedly in his 50s, was killed on March 1, 2025. He was at his home on 3rd Street SE, simply watching television, when gunfire erupted from outside. A bullet struck him in the head, ending his life in what police have described as a retaliatory shooting. At the time of the incident, two other individuals were inside the residence with Evans, but they were not injured.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to an earlier altercation that had occurred the same day. According to the Chief of Police, two groups of young people were involved in a dispute that escalated to shots being fired, though no one was injured in that initial confrontation. In an apparent act of revenge for the earlier incident, the shooting at Evans' home was carried out. The police believe the intended target of the shooting was not Norman Evans Jr. himself, but rather to frighten him, as the son of his girlfriend was involved in the earlier dispute.
In connection with the death of Norman Evans Jr., police arrested 17-year-old Dereon Reese. During questioning at the police headquarters the following day, Reese reportedly confessed to firing the shots into the Evans residence. He has since been charged with manslaughter and is being held at the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on a $250,000 bond. The case against him is pending in the court of law, where he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
