New Orleans police investigate a carjacking and shooting at Nashville and Loyola avenues on July 17, 2022.
New Orleans police investigate a carjacking and shooting at Nashville and Loyola avenues on July 17, 2022.
More than 1½ months after he was shot and carjacked in Uptown New Orleans, allegedly by an escapee of the Bridge City juvenile prison, Scott Toups remains in a hospital in critical condition.
His wife of 33 years, Stacie Toups, described him as an electrical foreman who loved his job, a Carnival krewe member and a father of three adult sons. He's been lying in a hospital bed as she and her family pray for his recovery.
"We've had the hard discussions," she said. "He has some moments of clarity. His nurse told me ... that she said, 'If you can hear me, put your thumb up,' and he gave a halfhearted thumbs up."
Toups was dropping off Mardi Gras season bead donations at Nashville and Loyola avenues on July 17 when one of six juvenile inmates who escaped Bridge City Center for Youth shot him twice and took his car, the Police Department said. The 17-year-old suspect was arrested later that day.
"Not only did he shoot him twice when it was completely unnecessary, because all he wanted was the car, he took the time to take the wallet out of his back pocket as he’s bleeding on the ground. ... He took the credit cards - left his license, business cards - and then placed it back in his back pocket and then drove away," Stacie Toups said.
"Who does that? What kind of individual? Heartless.
Stacie Toups said District Attorney Jason Williams visited the couple in the hospital. "One of the first things he said was, 'I'm going to try him as an adult,'" Toups said.
Williams' office confirmed that: "The decisions made by Kendall Myles to not only escape a juvenile jail facility, but carjack and shoot a member of the elderly community near a school with children is something that we cannot allow. Myles is currently sentenced to juvenile life, so there would essentially be no accountability for these egregious actions should this case remain in Juvenile Court. With that, the DA’s office will be trying this case in Criminal District Court to ensure that Myles is appropriately held accountable."
With her husband still in intensive care, Toups waits, hopes and prays for improvements.
"Everyone is outraged on my behalf and Scott's behalf," she said. "A miracle. All we need is a few miracles."
Erika Ferrando may be reached at eferrando@wwltv.com.
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