In the early morning hours of July 27, 2025, a large crowd was gathered in a shopping center parking lot on North Market Street in Shreveport, Louisiana. Sixteen-year-old Hailey McDonald was inside a vape shop in the 1700 block of North Market Street when an exchange of gunfire erupted between multiple vehicles in the roadway outside. During the chaos, a bullet struck Hailey in the upper body. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 1:40 a.m.
and transported her to Ochsner LSU Health. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival at the hospital, at 1:48 a.m.
The Shreveport Police Department immediately began an investigation into the senseless shooting. Investigators determined that Hailey was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Their efforts to identify those involved in the shooting led them to a suspect. On August 18, 2025, an arrest warrant was issued for Jon Darius Scott for the illegal use of a weapon.
A coordinated effort between the Shreveport Police Homicide Unit, the U.S. Marshals Task Force, and the Special Response Team led to the execution of a search warrant on August 29, 2025, at a location where Jon Darius Scott was found. Scott was taken into custody without incident. Following his arrest, detectives gathered further information that connected him directly to Hailey's death. Consequently, Jon Darius Scott was charged with one count of second-degree murder.
