On the evening of August 2, 2026, a burst of gunfire at Huckleberry Trails Park in Ruston, Louisiana, left 20-year-old Ramon Moore IV fatally wounded. The shooting occurred during a planned meeting between two groups; police say the dispute is believed to have been drug-related. Moore was airlifted to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, where he died. An 18-year-old, Jeremiah Freeman, was also shot, treated at Northern Louisiana Medical Center, and later released.

Officers arrested 19-year-old Juel Carmine Rodriquez of Simsboro near the scene on Magnolia Drive. He was charged with second-degree murder, possession of a machine gun, distribution of a Schedule I drug, and violating the controlled substances law in a drug-free zone. Investigators continued to interview witnesses and process evidence, and officials warned additional charges could follow.

This was Ruston’s first homicide in 2026 and prompted a community meeting about policing, drugs, youth crime, and neighborhood safety. If anyone knew Ramon, Jeremiah, or saw what happened at Huckleberry Trails Park that night, please share information with the investigating agency.