In the early morning hours of Friday, May 14, 2021, Mark Anthony Melancon Sr., 36, was found in the parking lot of the Carom Inn on Home Depot Drive in Denham Springs, Louisiana, with two apparent gunshot wounds to his back. Denham Springs police say the incident began as a physical altercation among several people and escalated when a man identified as Evan L. Cloninger, 30, allegedly produced a handgun and fired at least two rounds, striking Melancon in the back.

Cloninger reportedly fled on foot after the shooting. Police obtained an arrest warrant charging him with second-degree murder and released a physical description listing him as 5 feet 7 inches, 185 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a tattoo of the name Emily on the left side of his neck.

If anyone was in the area that night or has information about what led to the altercation, please come forward.