Minden Man’s Murder Investigation Takes a Breakthrough Turn
Minden, La. — A small town often characterized by its tight-knit community recently witnessed a tragic incident that has left residents in shock. The Oct. 8 shooting death of a Minden man in the parking lot of the Hillside Apartments complex has led authorities to make a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
Suspect Arrested in Connection with Homicide
On Tuesday morning, a suspect was taken into custody in connection with the shooting death of DeQuincy Jones, a 36-year-old man whose life was tragically cut short. Michael Kingston, a 23-year-old from Shreveport, was arrested by the U.S. Marshal’s Service on an active warrant issued by the Minden Police Department (MPD). Kingston is now facing serious charges, including first-degree murder and armed robbery, and is being held on a staggering bond of $2.075 million.
The investigation began with the unsettling discovery of Jones’s body, which was found with a single gunshot wound to the head. Despite the presence of a handgun at the scene, there were many unanswered questions initially, leaving investigators puzzled and scrambling for leads.
In-Depth Investigation Unfolds
According to Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver, the crime scene provided limited information regarding the circumstances of the death. Detectives had to wait for autopsy results to determine whether they were dealing with a homicide or a case of self-inflicted injury. Det. Lt. Jason Smith described the scene as perplexing, stating, “There was nothing at the scene to clearly indicate what happened.” They meticulously scrutinized every detail, having found the handgun but no shell casings — which made their work even more challenging.
Efforts led by MPD Sgt. Jason Lee and Det. Matthew Hicks saw investigators interviewing multiple witnesses and reviewing video footage. Their hard work started to bear fruit when the results from the pathologist arrived on Friday. The autopsy revealed crucial information: the gunshot wound had been inflicted by a firearm of a different caliber than the one found at the scene.
Witness Provides Key Information
From there, the investigation turned a corner. Sgt. Lee explained, “That answered a lot of questions we had about the shooting and we began to investigate it as a homicide.” A credible witness stepped forward, sharing knowledge not only about the circumstances surrounding the shooting but also identifying Kingston as the alleged shooter.
Further inquiry revealed that Kingston had traveled to Minden with an ulterior motive—he purportedly approached Jones under the pretense of selling him a firearm. As the two men engaged, it is believed that a struggle ensued when Jones resisted the robbery attempt. Tragically, Kingston shot Jones once in the left side of the head at very close range.
Hard Work Yields Results
The dedication exhibited by the detectives during the initial stages of this investigation was remarkable. In what was described by Smith as an exhausting effort, Lee and Hicks worked nearly 40 hours without sleep, always striving to piece together the narrative of that fateful night. Their persistence—combined with the cooperation of the witness—eventually led to Kingston’s arrest.
The investigation into this disturbing crime is a powerful reminder of the challenges that law enforcement faces in solving violent crimes, especially those that disturb the peace in a community like Minden. As the case unfolds, residents are urged to stay vigilant and continue cooperating with local authorities.
As the investigation moves forward, the community watches closely, hoping for more clarity and justice in the wake of such a heartbreaking tragedy.
