NEW ORLEANS – Today, District Attorney Jason Williams announced the Special Grand Jury indictment decisions in the attempted murder and carjacking case of 59-year-old Scott Toups. Defendant Kendell Myles (17) was indicted on charges of Attempted Second Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery with the Use of a Firearm, Armed Robbery with the Use of a Firearm, Illegal Discharging of a Firearm while Committing a Crime of Violence, and Aggravated Flight from an Officer. Defendant Kayla Smith (16) was indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery with the Use of a Firearm and Armed Robbery with the Use of a Firearm.

“As we work diligently to combat this senseless crime surge taking place in New Orleans, my office is committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that those who choose to wreak havoc in our community are appropriately held accountable,” said District Attorney Jason Williams. “The egregious decisions made by Kendell Myles and Kayla Smith are choices that this office refuses to allow in our neighborhoods. While I still believe in handling juvenile matters in the juvenile system to ensure developmentally appropriate adjudication of young people, the juvenile sentencing limits would be inadequate to ensure that these young people are appropriately held accountable for these crimes. Particularly, Myles was already sentenced to juvenile life for a separate violent crime. If this case were to remain in juvenile court, this would mean that Myles would have no accountability for these horrible actions and my office will not allow that. We have been, and continue to be, laser-focused on increasing safety in our city. This indictment is proof positive of that.”

Myles and Smith were arrested for the attempted murder and armed robbery of Scott Toups in the 5600 block of Loyola Avenue in July 2022. According to New Orleans Police Department reports, Myles escaped from the Bridge City Detention Facility and robbed the 59-year-old victim, Scott Toups, with Kayla Smith. The report also states Myles shot the victim twice and took his car.

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