Man arrested in double homicide

A 41-year-old Ruston man now faces two counts of second-degree homicide in connection with a double murder that happened Dec. 30, 2023, at an apartment complex on West Alabama Avenue.

David Ray Taylor was arrested by Ruston police July 3 at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office in Alexandria. Taylor had been wanted on a pair of warrants for the double killings, and on a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers said Monday the investigation into the incident remains active.

Taylor is accused of killing Robert Thompson, of Jonesboro, and Tracy Hampton, of Arcadia. Thompson died the night of the shooting; Hampton died later.

Both men were shot in the head in the parking lot of the Park Ridge Estates apartments seconds after midnight Dec. 30.

Officers found one of the victims lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. The other victim was found in a pickup truck parked near the first victim, police said.

The truck was idling, and the headlights were on. Police have not released a possible motive for the incident.

Taylor is being held in the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on $2,750,000 bond.