By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s authorities are investigating the parish’s first homicide of the year after a 19-year-old man was found shot multiple times inside a car in a St. Rose neighborhood.

Deputies were called to the 600 block of Turtle Creek Road around 8:40 p.m. in response to reports of gunfire in the area. When they arrived they found Jared Mealey of St. Rose slumped over inside a Chevy Impala with the engine still running, said Capt. Pat Yoes, spokesman for the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office. Mealy, who had bullet wounds to his neck and face, was pronounced dead at the scene, Yoes said.

Yoes said when deputies got to Mealy’s car it had run over a mailbox and had come to rest against a nearby fire hydrant. He said the windows on the driver’s side of the car were shattered, and responding deputies found the victim sitting in the driver’s seat.  

Yoes said no arrests have been made, and there is no motive or suspects in the case at this time. He added that another vehicle was seen speeding away from the shooting, but authorities said the color of the car could not be determined.

“We are still investigating and ask that anyone with information call Crimestoppers,” Yoes said.

Mealey is a 2011 graduate of Destrehan High School and a former member of the football team.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office Detective Brad Walsh at 985-783-1135 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.