By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – A teenager believed to be responsible for the May 29 murder of a St. Rose man, who was found shot inside a car in a St. Rose neighborhood, was arrested Wednesday evening, according to the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant Wednesday for Keywine “Poppa” Bradford, 16, in the murder of Jared Mealey, said Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. LaGrange said Bradford, also of St. Rose, turned himself in at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Mealey was found shot multiple times inside a Chevy Impala in the 600 block of Turtle Creek Road in the Preston Hollow neighborhood around 8:40 p.m. on May 29. Mealy had bullet wounds to his neck and face and was pronounced dead at the scene.

When deputies got to Mealey’s car, it had run over a mailbox and had come to rest against a nearby fire hydrant. Authorities 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.  

LaGrange would not say how Bradford was found to be a suspect or what his motive might have been. He said Bradford and Mealey were acquaintances. Mealey was a 2011 Destrehan graduate and a member of the football team. He is the younger brother of former Destrehan, LSU and Green Bay Packers running back Rondell Mealey.

After surrendering to authorities, Bradford was transferred to the St. James Parish Youth Detention Center.