A July 4 pursuit that began in Terrytown ended with a crash on the streets of New Orleans and a familiar defendant back behind bars. Louisiana State Police say a 19-year-old Waggaman man, already under court supervision in a deadly Northshore case, was arrested after allegedly leading troopers from Terrytown into New Orleans in a Dodge Challenger that had been reported stolen. The chase ended when the car slammed into another vehicle inside the city, totaling that vehicle and injuring an occupant. Authorities have since booked the suspect on multiple counts, and his probation officer has moved to revoke the suspended sentence tied to his earlier Slidell case.
According to NOLA.com, the suspect, identified in jail records as 19-year-old Emon Starks of Waggaman, was booked July 4 on negligent injuring, aggravated flight from an officer, possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless operation and a probation violation. Jail records show Starks was transferred to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna, where he is being held without bond. Court files cited by NOLA.com show Starks had been sentenced in St. Tammany Parish to a 10-year term that was suspended, with three years of active probation, after he pleaded guilty in the case connected to the 2024 incident.
The 2024 Slidell matter began in the early hours of Aug. 24, 2024, when an attempted theft and an exchange of gunfire left 19-year-old Stephen Sampson dead and led to arrests and indictments of several suspects, including Starks, according to coverage by FOX8. That case has remained a focal point for investigators on the North Shore and is the court matter that underpins Starks' current probation status.
How the chase unfolded
Louisiana State Police say the July 4 pursuit began in Terrytown and ended at the intersection of General De Gaulle Drive and Holiday Drive in New Orleans. The Challenger, which had been reported stolen out of St. Tammany Parish on June 19, struck another vehicle at that intersection, totaling it and injuring an occupant, according to NOLA.com. Troopers and local officers later found two people hiding near the crash scene and took them into custody while the investigation continues.
Court and next steps
Starks' probation officer has filed a motion to revoke his suspended sentence following the July arrest, and court records show a revocation hearing set for Aug. 19, 2026. If the judge revokes probation, the previously suspended 10-year sentence could be imposed. For now, Starks remains jailed while prosecutors decide whether to pursue additional charges tied to the chase and crash.
Police and prosecutors say the investigation is still active and are asking anyone with information to contact Slidell police or the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The arrest pulls a defendant linked to a high-profile Northshore death back into custody and highlights how quickly probation can unravel when new serious charges come into play.
