Officers with the Hammond Police Department responded to a report of shots fired with one possible victim at approximately 11:50 p.m. on February 24, 2026 in the area of Center Avenue near the intersection of Highway 51 and West Church Street in Hammond, Louisiana.
The call came in during the late evening hours in this residential neighborhood located in the heart of Tangipahoa Parish where local streets often see mixed vehicle and pedestrian activity after dark. Upon arrival patrol units secured the scene and began assessing the situation as part of the department’s standard response to gunfire reports in the city of about 20 000 residents situated along Interstate 12 and U.S. Highway 51.
Police located 14-year-old Tyronai Reed a juvenile female suffering from an apparent gunshot wound at the location. First responders immediately provided emergency medical assistance including efforts to stabilize her condition while awaiting transport. The young victim was quickly loaded into an ambulance for the short trip to the nearby hospital as investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division took over the scene to preserve evidence and interview any potential witnesses in the immediate vicinity.
Reed was transported to North Oaks Health System in Hammond where medical teams performed life saving measures in the trauma unit. Despite the best efforts of doctors and staff the 14-year-old succumbed to her injuries later that night marking a devastating outcome for the juvenile who had been in the company of others at the time of the incident. The hospital confirmation shifted the case from a critical injury response to a full homicide investigation for the Hammond Police Department.
While detectives worked the Center Avenue scene officers spotted a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed nearby and conducted a traffic stop without incident. The driver was identified as 18 year old Demontez Treyvon Trey Robinson a Hammond resident who was taken into custody and transported directly to the department’s Criminal Investigations Division for questioning. This rapid development occurred within minutes of the initial response allowing authorities to connect the suspect to the event through timely patrol work in the area.
During interrogation Robinson admitted that the firearm discharged while he was handling or playing with it resulting in a single round striking Reed who was with him at the time. The admission provided crucial details on the negligent handling that led to the tragedy eliminating the need for prolonged forensic delays in establishing the sequence of events. Hammond Police booked Robinson into the city jail on one count of negligent homicide based on his statement and the physical evidence recovered from the Center Avenue location.
The Hammond Police Department continues its active investigation into the circumstances surrounding the February 24 shooting urging anyone with additional information to contact Detective Corey Morse at 985 277 5758 or via email at morse_cm@hammond.org. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department’s Facebook page or Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa at 1-800-554-5245 with potential cash rewards available. Au
