Jonmark Miletello

Jonmark Miletello, a 20-year-old Hispanic man from West Monroe, Louisiana, was a graduate of West Monroe High School and West Ridge Middle School. His life was cut short during a violent confrontation in the early morning hours of May 25, 2019.

That morning, Miletello had sent a text message to 17-year-old Jonathan Hogg about visiting his home on Fortune Drive in Monroe’s Treasure Island neighborhood. Miletello and his friends, including 17-year-old D'Veil Freeman Jr., went to the residence to resolve a dispute over money Miletello allegedly owed Hogg for drugs. At the house, Hogg was with two other young men, Zachary Filhiol and Damian Haddox-Barragan. A fight soon broke out between the two groups. During the altercation, one of Hogg's friends, later identified as Filhiol, reportedly pulled out a gun. Hogg then obtained the weapon. As Miletello and Freeman were fleeing the home, Hogg fired numerous rounds, striking both of them multiple times. Miletello was fatally wounded, and Freeman was critically injured, requiring emergency surgery.

Instead of calling for help, Hogg, Filhiol, and Haddox-Barragan left the scene. Investigators later reported that Hogg and his mother removed drugs from the house before notifying authorities. Shortly after the shooting, Hogg and his companions approached Louisiana State Troopers in a vehicle, admitted they had been at the scene, identified Hogg as the shooter, and turned over the firearm. Hogg claimed he had acted in self-defense because he thought Miletello was about to hit his friend, but evidence indicated that both victims were shot as they ran away. Miletello’s friends did not call 911 but were able to get the wounded Freeman to a local hospital for treatment.

Jonathan Hogg was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. A grand jury later indicted him on those charges, along with counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine. In July 2019, authorities also charged his associates. Damian Haddox-Barragan, 18, was charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly harboring Hogg after the shooting. Zachary Filhiol, 20, was charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated assault with a firearm.

In May 2021, Jonathan Michael Hogg, then 19, went to trial in Ouachita Parish. On May 22, a jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in the killing of Jonmark Miletello.