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Oak Grove Woman Killed in Apparent Homicide; Suspect Arrested on Murder Charge
OAK GROVE, La. (DailyKenn.com) — A 43-year-old woman was fatally shot Friday evening in a rural neighborhood here, prompting a brief manhunt that ended with the arrest of a 24-year-old local man on a second-degree murder charge.
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The incident occurred around 6:33 p.m. in the 700 block of Macon Front Road, when Louisiana State Police detectives from the Monroe Field Office responded to assist the West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office in investigating the shooting death of Kasi DeLane Hayden, a longtime Oak Grove resident.
Troopers said Hayden was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting appeared to stem from a confrontation between Hayden and the suspect, though authorities have not released further details on a possible motive.
Within hours, investigators identified Brian Freeman, also of Oak Grove, as a person of interest and issued a public alert seeking tips on his whereabouts. Freeman, described as 5-foot-10 with brown hair and blue eyes, was considered armed and dangerous.
The search concluded peacefully Monday morning in nearby Ouachita Parish. West Monroe police arrested Freeman around 11:30 a.m. on an active warrant for second-degree murder, along with a separate charge of shoplifting. He was booked into the West Carroll Parish Detention Center without bond and is scheduled for an initial court appearance later this week.
Hayden's death has stunned the tight-knit community of about 1,600 residents along the Louisiana-Arkansas border. Neighbors described her as a devoted mother and active volunteer at local events. Funeral arrangements are pending, with a public visitation expected later in the week.
State police continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the shooting and urge anyone with information to contact the Monroe Field Office at (318) 741-7411 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (318) 388-5100.
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