St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office has taken into custody two individuals linked to the shooting death of 16-year-old Harold Warren, Jr., in LaPlace, as per a recent social media post by the department. The suspects, 19-year-old Jace Becnel of Reserve and 16-year-old Chance Bailey, also from Reserve, were apprehended after an investigation into an alleged illegal gun deal gone awry on December 17, 2025.
Details provided in the Facebook post by the Sheriff's Office highlight Becnel's charges, which include second-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles; his bond remains unset. Bailey, who faces charges of principal to second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a firearm among others, is currently held on a $472,000 bond.
The investigation was triggered by a shooting that had three young men caught in its violent wake—one ultimately losing his life, and the others sustaining various injuries. Enlisted to respond to a shooting report before evening closed in, deputies found the scene of the crime in the 3100 block of English Colony Drive, where Warren was declared deceased at a local facility. The survivors, a 19-year-old with a leg wound and a 17-year-old with multiple gunshot wounds, have both seen the insides of a hospital room—the latter having been critical but now released.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident encouragingly to contact the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office through their TIPS line or the Criminal Investigations Division. Additionally, tips can be submitted via the Sheriff's Office website.
