Joshua Taylor

Joshua Taylor was known by those who loved him as a happy, goofy, and charismatic young man who found joy in helping others. Friends said the 21-year-old could light up any room and make people feel comfortable. His life was cut short in the early morning hours of July 3, 2022, in his hometown of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.

Around 3 a.m., the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office received a distress call from Joshua himself. He reported that he had been shot multiple times at a residence just outside the city limits. When deputies arrived, they found Joshua gravely wounded. He was rushed to North Oaks Medical Center, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Before he died, authorities said Joshua was able to provide enough information to help them identify the people allegedly involved in the shooting.

Investigators soon determined that the incident was the result of what they described as a "robbery gone wrong." According to the sheriff's office, Joshua, along with 18-year-old Breona Johnson and a 15-year-old girl, had been involved in a plan to rob 24-year-old Devante Collins of Slidell. The plan allegedly involved an attempt to poison Collins.

Following the investigation, authorities arrested three individuals. Devante Collins was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated battery by poisoning. Breona Johnson, of Roseland, was charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery by poisoning, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. The 15-year-old, identified as a runaway from the New Orleans area, also faced charges of second-degree murder and aggravated battery by poisoning.

In September 2022, a grand jury reviewed the evidence in the case against Devante Collins. The grand jury declined to return an indictment, and the allegations against him were dropped. This was the last reported development in the case.