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A massive storm is producing raging blizzards in the north and damaging tornadoes in the South, where a child was killed and homes flattened

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CNN
 — 

A massive cross-country storm is producing damaging tornadoes in the South, where a child has died, and punishing blizzard conditions in Colorado and the Plains that have resulted in shuttered interstates and snarled travel.

The storm system moving east across the nation – currently lingering over the central US – is fueling severe weather felt throughout the country, with at least five confirmed tornadoes in Texas and multiple others reported. The storms left a path of destruction across Oklahoma and the Dallas-Fort Worth area Tuesday, flattening homes and injuring at least seven people.

In Louisiana, a child who was missing after a tornado touched down in Keithville Tuesday was found dead, and a search for the young boy’s mother is ongoing, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

“A young boy was found deceased in a wooded area of Pecan Farms where his home was destroyed,” the sheriff’s office said.

About 100 miles away in the small Union Parish town of Farmerville, Louisiana, at least 20 people were injured after a tornado struck Tuesday night, according to Farmerville Police Detective Cade Nolan.

“It’s the worst damage I’ve seen in 17 years,” Nolan told CNN, describing seeing mobile homes lifted from their axles and frames and in some cases carried a quarter of a mile away.

First responders were still searching for people in the early morning hours Wednesday, Nolan said, adding several people were injured while traveling in cars.

Meanwhile, nearly 10 million people – largely in the north-central US – are under winter weather warnings or advisories, with blowing snow and power outages a key concern. Another 6 million people across the northeast will be under winter storm watches Wednesday.

As the storm continues its trek east, here’s what different regions can expect:

  • Tornadoes and damaging winds are possible Wednesday over parts of southern Louisiana, southern and central Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.
  • There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms, and a risk of excessive rainfall over the Lower Mississippi Valley and Central Gulf Coast through Thursday.
  • Heavy snow, rain and freezing rain are expected over the Upper Midwest Wednesday
  • Freezing rain and sleet are expected to continue across the Plains and then shift into the Upper Midwest through Wednesday, making travel dangerous.

The storm over the Central Plains is expected to move northeast to the Upper Great Lakes, while a sister storm develops over parts of the Mid-Atlantic by Thursday, according to the Weather Prediction Center. Multiple days of heavy snow, strong winds and freezing rain will continue to stir up extreme weather across the north-central US through Thursday evening.

More than 3 million people across parts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas were under tornado watches early Wednesday. The main threats continue to include possible tornadoes, hail and gusts up to 75 mph.

Since Tuesday, there have been multiple tornado and hail reports.

Videos showed downed power lines and destroyed homes in Decatur and Blue Ridge, Texas, as well as Wayne, Oklahoma, after the storm brought severe weather barreling through.

Just outside Dallas, storms left at least five people injured, Grapevine police said. Businesses including a Grapevine mall, a Sam’s Club and a Walmart were damaged, police said.

Another two people were injured, and homes and businesses were damaged, in Wise County Tuesday morning, northwest of Fort Worth, county officials said. One person was hurt when wind overturned their vehicle, and the other – also in a vehicle – was hurt by flying debris, officials said.

In Wayne, Oklahoma, a confirmed EF2 tornado knocked out power and damaged homes, outbuildings and barns early Tuesday, officials said, though no injuries were reported.

In Farmerville, Louisiana, Tiyia Stringfellow told CNN she was inside her apartment when a tornado hit. She was with her boyfriend and two young children and all of them survived without injuries, she said.

“We were in the kitchen closet,” Stringfellow said. “All we heard was whistling and my boyfriend got up to look outside of the window and he (saw) the tornado, the whole house was shaking and I (saw) my roof cave in and the house went dark.”

For Wednesday, parts of southern Louisiana, southern and central Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle still face an enhanced threat of severe weather.

Cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama, could see a few strong tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail.

The storm could also bring isolated tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds to the area from the Texas-Louisiana border to the Panhandle of Florida north to central Mississippi, Alabama, and western Georgia.

By Thursday, the threat weakens to a slight risk for severe weather as the storm moves towards the East Coast.

Blizzard conditions in the Northern and Central High Plains are expected to make travel dangerous on snow-covered roads amid 1-2 inches per hour snow rates and winds gusting at 50-60 mph, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

The “one-in-five-year storm” worked its way through parts of Nebraska Tuesday and is expected to linger in the area through the end of the week, NWS metrologist Bill Taylor said.

Blizzard warnings are in place throughout parts of the state and the state’s Department of Transportation said several roadways are closed, including all roadways from Nebraska into Colorado.

Residents will be contending with near zero visibility making travel difficult, as well as possible scattered power outages.

In South Dakota, schools in the Rapid City area closed Tuesday and will remain shuttered on Wednesday due to the snow conditions in the area, the school district said on Facebook.

The wintry weather conditions caused a closure of both east and westbound lanes of Interstate 90 from Rapid City to the Wyoming state line on Tuesday, state transportation officials said.

Heavy snow and gusty winds will likely spread across the Northern Plains into the Upper Midwest Wednesday and Thursday, the Storm Prediction Center said.

Freezing rain and sleet are expected to continue across the Plains and then shift into the Upper Midwest through Wednesday, again making travel dangerous.

“Strong winds and cold temperatures will continue even after this storm ends, creating bitterly cold wind chills,” the National Weather Service said.

As the second storm develops over the Southern Appalachians and moves to Mid-Atlantic on Thursday, residents can expect heavy snow over parts of the Lower Great Lakes, Central Appalachians and the northern Mid-Atlantic.

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US

Tornado threat ramps up as storm damage reported in Oklahoma and Texas and blizzard conditions mount in the northern Plains

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Severe storms – with reports of at least one tornado and damaging winds – are raking parts of Oklahoma and Texas, leaving a trail of damage Tuesday morning and threatening more as blizzard conditions build across several states farther north.

This is all part of a giant winter storm system pushing into the central US after walloping the West over the weekend. About 25 million people from Texas to Mississippi are under threat of severe storms Tuesday, including tornadoes. And about 15 million people – largely in the north-central US – are under winter-weather warnings or advisories Tuesday morning, with power outages a key concern.

Two tornado watches are in effect: One for parts of the Dallas area and southern Oklahoma until 11 a.m. CT; and one for for parts of Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas until 5 p.m. CT.

A line of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes and large hail was hitting the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in the midmorning.

Sirens rang out around 9:30 a.m. ET at Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport. “We are in the midst of a tornado warning here on the western side of the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” CNN’s Ed Lavandera said from the airport, “where essentially everything has come to a halt here (as) this really strong line of severe storms is starting to make its way through North Texas.”

Damage on Tuesday morning includes:

• Wayne, Oklahoma: A suspected tornado in that town left “buildings wiped off of their foundation (and) trees snapped over like twigs” early Tuesday, CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said. There are no reported injuries, but Wayne has no power, and family structures, outbuildings and barns are damaged, according to McClain County Emergency Management.

• Outside Dallas: Wind damage has been reported Tuesday morning west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, including tractor-trailers being blown over near the towns of Millsap and Decatur, and barns suffering damage near the town of Jacksboro, the National Weather Service said.

More severe storms capable of tornadoes are expected Tuesday and Wednesday in the Gulf Coast region as the complex snow-or-rain system sweeps through the central US from north to south.

Across the central and northern Plains and Upper Midwest, blowing snow and/or freezing rain could snarl travel and threaten power outages into Thursday.

Here’s what different regions can expect in the coming days:

• An “enhanced risk” for severe storms Tuesday stretches from eastern Texas to northern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi, with tornadoes, large hail and damaging straight line winds possible.

• Blizzard conditions are expected Tuesday and Wednesday for parts of the central and northern Plains, with snow at times expected to fall at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour amid powerful 40 mph winds.

• The greatest flash flooding threat will be Tuesday into Wednesday from the lower Mississippi Valley into the central Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians.

• Freezing rain and sleet will be possible through Wednesday in the Upper Midwest.

The storm, which first hit the Western US with much-needed snow and rain, resulted in winter storm alerts from the Canadian border to Mexico’s border with New Mexico.

In Denver, up to 5 inches of snow are expected Tuesday, with 50 mph wind gusts possible.

Blizzard warnings extended Tuesday from parts of Montana and Wyoming into northeastern Colorado, western Nebraska and South Dakota, where harsh, life-threatening conditions are expected.

Snowfall through Wednesday morning generally could be 10 to 18 inches in the central and northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Some areas inside the blizzard warning zones – particularly western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming and northwestern Nebraska – could get as many as 24 inches of snow, with winds strong enough to knock down tree limbs and cause power outages, the Weather Prediction Center said.

“We’re not expecting a quick burst of snowfall here,” Brandon Wills, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyoming, said Monday evening. Snow is “going to accumulate the highest in the northern Nebraska panhandle – and it’s going to be blowing around like crazy because of the strong winds that we’re going to have as well,” he said.

Interstates in South Dakota could become impassable amid the blizzard conditions, resulting in roadway closures across the state, the South Dakota Department of Transportation warned Monday.

Ice storm warnings were issued for parts of eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and western Iowa. Up to two-tenths of an inch of ice could accumulate in some of these areas, forecasters said.

In Anchorage, Alaska, an “unprecedented amount of snowfall” has led to schools being closed for four days and on Monday shut down the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University.

“The snowstorms that have hit Anchorage over the last week are historic in nature, bringing anywhere between 30-45 inches of snow to our city,” said Hans Rodvik, a spokesperson for the Anchorage mayor’s office, said Monday in a statement to CNN.

Meanwhile, the southern end of the storm threatens to bring tornadoes.

A tornado watch is in effect Tuesday morning for parts of Texas and southern Oklahoma until 11 a.m. CT. The main threats are tornadoes, hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph.

An alert for enhanced risk of severe weather – level 3 of 5 – was issued Tuesday for eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi River Valley, with the main threats including powerful tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lafayette, Louisiana, are part of the threatened area, as is Jackson, Mississippi.

“My main concern with the tornadoes is going to be after dark,” CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said Tuesday. “We have very short days this time of year, so 5 or 6 o’clock, it’s going to be dark out there. Spotters aren’t as accurate when it is dark. Tornado warnings are a little bit slow; if you’re sleeping, you may not get them. So, that’s the real danger with this storm.”

A zone of slight risk – level 2 of 5 – encircled that area, stretching from eastern Texas and southern Oklahoma to southern Arkansas and much of the rest of Louisiana and central Mississippi. That includes Dallas and New Orleans.

Tuesday also brings a slight risk of excessive rainfall in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, with 2 to 4 inches of rain and flash flooding possible, the Weather Prediction Center said.

On Wednesday, the threat for severe weather is largely focused on the Gulf Coast, with tornadoes and damaging winds possible over parts of southern Louisiana, Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, the Storm Prediction Center said.

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US

Storms cause major tornadoes, flooding around the South

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Residents in several towns across Louisiana and Mississippi took cover as tornado sirens blared late Tuesday, and forecasters warned of the threat of strong twisters capable of tracking long distances on the ground as a severe weather outbreak erupted in the Deep South.

There were no immediate reports of severe damage or injuries as multiple tornado warnings were issued starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing into the nighttime hours as heavy thunderstorms rolled from eastern Texas to Georgia and as far north as Indiana. The National Weather Service confirmed that tornados hit the ground in Mississippi on Tuesday evening and Alabama was in the forecast path of the storms during the overnight hours.

More than 25 million people were at risk as the vast storm system. The national Storm Prediction Center said in its storm outlook that affected cities could include New Orleans; Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee; and Birmingham, Alabama.

The NWS received reports of people trapped at a grocery store in Caledonia, Mississippi, just after 6 p.m. Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence told WTVA-TV the people inside the grocery store made it out safely. Lawrence also said a family trapped in a house about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the store escaped.

Additional reports of property damage near Columbus were received by the NWS, according to Lance Perrilloux, a forecaster with the agency.

Heavy rain and hail as big as tennis balls were also possible as forecasters said the weather outbreak was expected to continue into Wednesday.

In west Alabama, a suspected tornado damaged numerous homes in Hale County, according to storm damage reports to the National Weather Service. About 29,000 customers were without power early Wednesday morning.

And in the west Alabama town of Eutaw, video from WBMA-TV from showed large sections of the roof missing from an apartment complex, where residents stood outside in the middle of the night.

“We’ve got power lines, trees just all over the road,” Eutaw Police Chief Tommy Johnson told WBRC-TV. “In the morning when we get a little daylight, we’re going to do a door-by-door search to make sure no one is trapped inside or anything like that.”

So far, though, there were no reports of injuries. “We haven’t got any reports of anyone hurt or anything,” he said.

Craig Ceecee, a meteorologist at Mississippi State University, peered out at “incredibly black” skies through the door of a tornado shelter in Starkville. He estimated that about 100 people had already arrived as a lightning storm persisted outside.

The Oktibbeha County Emergency Management agency is operating the shelter, about three miles (5 kilometers) from the university’s campus. Ceecee said the dome-shaped multipurpose facility capable of withstanding 250 mph (400 kph) winds.

Before Tuesday’s storm, Ceecee built a database of Mississippi tornado shelters. He said there are several towns without any.

“I’ve had to go through events without (shelters), and trust me, they were scary,” Ceecee said.

In the small town of Tchula, Mississippi, hail stones crashed against the windows of City Hall, as the mayor and other residents took cover during a tornado warning. “It was hitting against the window, and you could tell that it was nice-sized balls of it,” Mayor Ann Polk said after the storm passed.

It’s rare that federal forecasters warn of major tornadoes with the potential for carving damages across long distances, as they did in Tuesday’s forecasts. Tornado watches covering much of Louisiana and Mississippi were announced due to “a particularly dangerous situation,” the NWS said.

“Supercells are expected to develop this afternoon and track northeastward across much of northeast Louisiana and central Mississippi,” the weather service said. “Parameters appear favorable for strong and long-tracked tornadoes this afternoon and early evening.”

The most intense wave of the storm was projected to move through Mississippi between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., said Sarah Sickles, an NWS forecaster in Jackson, the state capital.

“Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms — some capable of long-tracked tornadoes with EF3+ damage potential — will be possible this afternoon into tonight over parts of the lower Mississippi Valley region and Mid-South,” the Norman, Oklahoma-based Storm Prediction Center said.

Tornadoes with an EF3 rating on the Enhanced Fujita tornado scale can produce wind gusts of up to 165 mph (266 kph).

All remaining classes at Mississippi State University’s main campus in Starkville switched to remote instruction Tuesday due to the weather. A Mississippi State women’s basketball game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe was to be played on campus, but the venue was closed to spectators. Alcorn State University and the University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg were closing early.

Some of Mississippi’s public school systems also closed early.

Flood watches were issued for parts of southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama, where 3 to 5 inches of rain (8 to 13 centimeters) could lead to flash flooding, the National Weather Service said.

Meanwhile, heavy snow was snarling traffic in some parts of the Upper Midwest.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport tweeted Tuesday afternoon that its runways were closed due to fast snowfall rates and reduced visibility. Air traffic websites showed some inbound planes circling or diverting to other airports such as St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota. The National Weather Service reported nearly 4 inches (10) of snow on the ground at the airport by noon.

___

Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Michael Goldberg in Jackson, Mississippi; Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.



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Entertainment

Family, friends and fans gather at funeral for rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis on Saturday

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Family, friends and fans gathered Saturday to bid farewell to rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis at memorial services held in his north Louisiana hometown.

Lewis, known for hits such as ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,’ died Oct. 28 at his Mississippi home, south of Memphis, Tenn. He was 87.

TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, Lewis’ cousin, told the more than 100 people inside Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday, the town where Lewis was born, that when Lewis died he ‘lost the brother I never had.’

‘We learned to play piano together,’ Swaggart recalled. ‘I had to make myself realize that he was no longer here.’

Swaggart and Lewis released ‘The Boys From Ferriday,’ a gospel album, earlier this year and Swaggart said he wasn’t sure if Lewis was going to be able to get through the recording session.

‘He was very weak’: Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart speaks at the funeral service for his cousin, rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, in Ferriday, La. on Saturday, eight days after the singer’s death on October 28

Donna Hoffmann, third cousin to rock ‘n’ roll hall of famer Jerry Lee Lewis, views his casket covered in flowers and portraits before the start of his funeral service

Ronnie Lewis, son of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, walks past his father’s casket before his funeral service, as flowers, portraits and memorable pictures were on display

Pallbearers carry Lewis’ casket into a white hearse following the singer’s funeral in his home town of Ferriday, which is right before the Louisiana-Mississippi border

Mourners gather outside Young’s Funeral Home following the end of proceedings at Lewis’ funeral on Saturday

Judith Brown, seventh wife of Lewis, wore an all-black outfit and shades as she was seen leaving her late husband’s funeral

Lewis was the last survivor of the rock ‘n’ roll generation that included Elvis, Little Richard and Chuck Berry

Lewis died last month, aged 87. He is pictured at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2005 at the Staples Center

‘He was very weak,’ Swaggart said. ‘I remember saying, “Lord, I don’t know if he can do it or not.” But when Jerry Lee sat at that piano, you know he was limited to what he could play because of the stroke, but when the engineer said the red light is on and when he opened his mouth, he said, ‘Jesus, hold my hand, I need thee every hour. Hear my feeble plea, oh Lord, look down on me.’

The session resulted in the album, and two of its songs played during the service: ‘In the Garden’ and ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’ Audience members were seen wiping tears from their eyes and singing along with Lewis as the recordings played.

‘He was one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived,’ Swaggart said.

Lewis, who called himself ‘The Killer,’ was the last survivor of a generation of artists that rewrote music history, a group that included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

Lewis’ body was at the front of the funeral home’s main parlor, inside a closed, red casket with a spray of red roses on top. Several funeral wreaths, including one in the form of a musical note, dotted the walls behind and around the casket as did photos of the singer, one of which showed him in a red suit hunched over and singing into a microphone.

Lewis died at his home in Nesbit, Mississippi, following a battle with pneumonia and a stroke suffered in 2019. He is pictured in the final photo taken before his death in Memphis

Jacob Tolliver greets others outside Young’s Funeral Home as family and friends gathered for Lewis’ final sendoff following proceedings inside

Mourners Carolyn Coghlan Gremillion and Bert Nokes gather with others outside Young’s Funeral Home after Lewis’ funeral

Left to right, Gabriel Swaggart, Eric Williams and Zach Farnum gather with others outside Young’s Funeral Home on Saturday

Mourners Jacob Tolliver, left, and Eric Williams were also in attendance as they celebrate Lewis’ life

Kenny Lovelace, who has performed with rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis since the 1960’s, walks outside after the funeral service for Lewis

Swaggart’s son, Donnie Swaggart, recalled a meeting in Memphis between Lewis and members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a country rock band, that highlighted Lewis’ humorous side.

He said his father and Lewis were walking toward an arena’s exit as the band members were coming in. 

‘As they neared Lewis, one asked, “Is that who I think it is? Is that Jerry Lee Lewis?” As Jerry Lee passed, one of the men asked, “Are you Jerry Lee Lewis?” Jerry Lee stopped and looked each of them up and down and said, “Boys, Killer’s my name and music’s my thing.” And then he walked out.’

Donnie Swaggart said the guys stood there, with their jaws dropped in amazement. ‘What a sense of humor he had,’ he said as the audience laughed.

After his personal life blew up in the late 1950s following news of his marriage to his cousin, 13-year-old — possibly even 12-year-old — Myra Gale Brown, while still married to his previous wife, the piano player and rock rebel was blacklisted from radio and his earnings dropped to virtually nothing. Over the following decades, Lewis struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, legal disputes and physical illness.

‘He always had a heart for God, even at his lowest times,’ Jimmy Swaggart said. ‘I will miss him very much but we know where he is now and thank God for that.’

People line up outside Young’s Funeral Home to view the casket of rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis before his funeral

Russell Lee Adams and Holly Carville sign the guestbook at the entrance to Lewis’ funeral service in Louisiana

Marcel Riesco, left, and Xochi Shirtz, of Nashville, wait in line outside Young’s Funeral Home to view Lewis’ casket

People sign the guestbook at the entrance to Young’s Funeral Home as they enter for the funeral service for rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis

Xavier Ellis, 28, a Ferriday native now teaching in Opelousas, La., said Lewis’ life is an inspiration.

‘He was a poor kid from Ferriday who made it to the heights he made it to. I’m very impressed with his life story. I’m saddened by him leaving, but his legacy will live on,’ Ellis said.

In the 1960s, Lewis reinvented himself as a country performer and the music industry eventually forgave him. He had a run of top 10 country hits from 1967 to 1970, including ‘She Still Comes Around’ and ‘What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me).’

In 1986, along with Elvis, Berry and others, Lewis was in the inaugural class of inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and joined the Country Hall of Fame this year. His life and music were reintroduced to younger fans in the 1989 biopic ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ starring Dennis Quaid, and Ethan Coen’s 2022 documentary ‘Trouble in Mind.’

A 2010 Broadway musical, ‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ was inspired by a recording session that featured Lewis, Elvis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.

Jerry Lee Lewis sits for a picture at the Country Music Hall of Fame after it was announced he will be inducted as a member on May 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.,

Lewis is pictured, furthest left, recording with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and others at Sun Studios, Memphis, during the 1950s. The mic they sang into, pictured in the foreground, was auctioned in 2004 

Brown is pictured with her former husband when she was 15. Lewis died while married to his seventh wife, Judith, who collected an award in his honor earlier this month 

Lewis is pictured performing onstage at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on November 17, 2018 in Cerritos, Calif.

Lewis won a Grammy in 1987 as part of an interview album that was cited for best spoken word recording, and he received a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2005.

The following year, ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ was selected for the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, whose board praised the ‘propulsive boogie piano that was perfectly complemented by the drive of J.M. Van Eaton’s energetic drumming. The listeners to the recording, like Lewis himself, had a hard time remaining seated during the performance.’

Tom Tomschin and his wife, Sandra, of Cicero, Ill., traveled to Ferriday to give homage to Lewis for all he’s done for the music industry.

‘We felt the need to pay our respect to the pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll who had a major part in the creation of and shaping of the genre,’ Tomschin said. ‘I’ve been a fan my entire life.’

The hearse carrying Lewis readies to depart the funeral home for burial after his funeral service

Fans wave farewell as the hearse carrying Lewis’ coffin departs the evangelical funeral home in Ferriday, Louisiana

Tomschin, 45, a government administrator, said ‘Crazy Arms’ and ‘You Win Again’ are two of his favorite songs by Lewis, who he described as one of a kind.

‘He never lived a life behind a curtain,’ Tomschin said of Lewis. ‘In his ups and downs, the good and bad, he did what he was going to do. Jerry Lee Lewis laid it all out on the table. There’s never going to be another person like Jerry Lee Lewis.’

Sandra Tomschin, 44, a library director, said she grew up on Lewis’ music and it’s left an indelible print on her life.

‘We love it,’ she said of his music. ‘We’ve been to several of his concerts and even though he’s gone, he will still live on in our hearts.’

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US

At least 1 dead as tornadoes tear through Oklahoma, Arkansas and northeast Texas

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CNN
 — 

An early winter blast met record autumn warmth Friday, leading to a robust, severe storm system in the South and creating the biggest tornado threat the US has seen in more than five months.

At least one person is dead in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, where significant storm damage was reported, according to county emergency manager Cody McDaniel.

Nine twisters formed in Texas, four in Arkansas, and one in Oklahoma, a preliminary count by the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center shows.

The total number will likely increase in the light of day Saturday, and the intensity of each one will not be known until local NWS offices conduct damage surveys, which may take several days.

In Texas, damage was confirmed west of Paris and near Sulphur Springs in the state’s northeast.

As the system moves east, a tornado watch is in effect Friday evening until midnight for parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

CNN Weather

At least four houses were damaged in Hopkins County, Texas, by a tornado, the sheriff’s office there said. No injuries were reported.

In neighboring Lamar County, where Paris is the county seat, “there has been quite a bit of damage and some injuries,” Lamar County Constable Travis Rhodes told CNN Friday night.

In Oklahoma, a woman was injured by a falling tree as she was heading to a storm shelter, Lewis Collins, a volunteer at the Choctaw Office of Emergency Management, told CNN. It’s unclear whether a tornado went through the area, he said.

The Storm Prediction Center had highlighted a ‘moderate risk’ – a Level 4 of 5 – area of severe thunderstorms on Friday for eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, southwestern Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area remains under an enhanced risk – a Level 3 out of 4 – for Friday.

“The most likely area for strong tornadoes [EF2 or higher] will be from far southeast Oklahoma southward into eastern Texas, to the east of the I-35 corridor,” the prediction center said.

The watch in effect until midnight includes portions of western and central Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

In addition to intense tornadoes, scattered large to very large hail, bigger than golf ball-sized (2 inches in diameter), are also possible, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

The main threat will shift from tornadoes Friday afternoon and evening to damaging winds going into the overnight hours as thunderstorms align and spread into Arkansas and Louisiana.

As the storms push east, a significant widespread and damaging wind event is forecast later Friday evening across portions of the Ark-La-Tex region. That is why the prediction center has upgraded the threat level for Friday.

“Storms will persist well into the night, tracking across much of Louisiana and Arkansas, and into western Mississippi, the prediction center added.

This storm system will be moving quickly from west to east, which will minimize the chance for flash flooding to occur across the Ark-La-Tex region. Farther north, rainfall of one to four inches is expected through Saturday over a broad area from Kansas to Wisconsin.

Rainfall is much needed in this region as recent drought has cause the Mississippi River to reach record low levels, impacting shipping and the supply chain.

In all, 42 million people from Texas to Wisconsin were at risk of severe storms Friday. Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Kansas City and Wichita are included in the risk areas as well.

The last time the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area was under an enhanced risk or higher was May 24.

While tornadoes in the US can happen in any month of the year, they are most common in the spring time thanks to the clash of cold and hot air as the seasons change. The same merging of temperatures also occurs in the autumn, which is why you will often see a secondary “severe season” later in the year.

“You can see that while the spring months are our busiest time climatologically, there is a secondary increase in tornado activity in November,” the National Weather Service in New Orleans said.

Texas sees the most tornadoes (7) in the month of November on average, followed by Alabama (6), Louisiana (5), and Mississippi (5).

The time of day when a tornado occurs makes a big difference in the fatality rate. Nocturnal tornadoes are more dangerous because many people are asleep and unaware they need to be seeking a safe location. While the greater tornado threat for this particular event exists during the daytime hours, there is still the possibility for a few rotating storms through the evening hours.

Make sure you have your severe weather safety plan ready to go before bad weather hits. Know where you will go if severe weather hits, and make sure flashlights work and cell phones are fully charged in case you lose power.

“One of the most important features of your severe weather safety plans is to have a reliable means to receive severe weather warnings,” the weather service in New Orleans said.

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US

Louisiana state officials delay flood funding to New Orleans a second time over city officials’ stance on abortion

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Landry urged the commission to deny the funding in both instances due to a New Orleans City Council resolution encouraging area law enforcement not to enforce the state’s abortion ban within their respective jurisdictions.

The project, titled “New Sewerage and Water Board Power Plant, Planning and Construction” is intended to protect New Orleans streets from floodwaters during storms and be completed in 2024.

In response to Louisiana’s so-called trigger ban — which took effect after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — the New Orleans City Council passed a resolution July 7 certifying the city leaders’ support of abortion access and reproductive health care by asking police, sheriff’s deputies and prosecutors not to dedicate city funds to collect information about abortions.
The Louisiana ban, which has been battled over in court, outlawed abortion outright, with no exemptions for rape or incest– and is currently in force, CNN previously reported.
In a July 19 letter, Landry asked the bond commission to pause any funding benefiting the city of New Orleans because of city leadership’s opposition to enforcing the state law banning abortion.

“In light of the City’s open defiance of the will of the people of Louisiana, I urge the Bond Commission to defer any applications for the City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and any local governmental entity or political subdivision under its purview,” Landry wrote in the July letter.

“In addition, any other funding that will directly benefit the City of New Orleans should also be paused until such time as the Council, Mayor, Chief of Police, Sheriff, and District Attorney have met with and affirmed that they will comply with and enforce the laws of this State and cooperate with any State officials who may be called upon to enforce them.”

According to the minutes from the commission’s July 21 meeting, a representative from Landry’s office motioned to defer the sewerage and water board project from the agenda item and approve the remaining projects.

The motion was approved without objection, according to the minutes.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell responded to the motion in a news release saying it is “disappointing and appalling” the commission halted funding for one of the most “vital and valuable” infrastructure projects.

“Regardless of the outcome, my administration will continue to prioritize the needs of our residents, which includes improving our aging infrastructure, strengthening our resiliency as a city, and protecting the reproductive rights of women throughout the City of New Orleans,” Cantrell said in the release.

On August 18, the bond commission met a second time to vote on the flood funding, and for a second time, and again at Landry’s urging, voted 7-6 to defer the motion for funding until next month, according to video of the meeting.

“The officials in New Orleans took an oath of office to support and enforce the laws of our State, yet they have decided that some laws are not worthy of enforcement,” Landry said in a statement following Thursday’s vote.

“In light of the City’s open defiance of the will of the people of Louisiana, I continue to my efforts on the State Bond Commission. Today was another step toward ensuring the parishes and municipalities of our State comply with the laws of our State,” the state attorney general said in a Facebook post.

On Friday, Mayor Cantrell told CNN’s Alex Marquardt she will not reconsider her stance on abortion. Withholding or redirecting any resources for infrastructure impacts both state and local economies, Cantrell said.

“We cannot afford to put politics over the rights of people, and particularly safeguarding people from hurricanes and other disasters, because we are on the front lines of climate change,” Cantrell said on CNN.

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Louisiana board holds flood aid for New Orleans amid abortion battle

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The abortion rights battle between conservative states and their liberal cities has claimed another casualty, after Louisiana state officials delayed storm aid to New Orleans even as the city faced a flood advisory and predictions of an above-average hurricane season.

At the urging of Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, the state’s bond commission voted 7-6 on Thursday to temporarily block a $39 million line of credit to the city for a power station to combat flooding in an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 until the Democratic mayor and council rescind vows to defy the state’s new abortion ban. All who voted to delay funding were Republicans or their proxies, although some Republicans on the commission voted not to delay.

“The officials in New Orleans took an oath of office to support and enforce the laws of our State, yet they have decided that some laws are not worthy of enforcement,” Landry said in a statement posted on Facebook, condemning “the city’s open defiance of the will of the people of Louisiana” and calling the vote, “another step toward ensuring the parishes and municipalities of our State comply with the laws of our State.” Landry’s office declined further comment Friday, instead highlighting his past comments.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell remained defiant.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the manufactured crisis of the attorney general, who has once again delayed critical infrastructure funding in the middle of hurricane season,” Cantrell said in a statement. “I will continue to prioritize necessary improvements to our city’s aging infrastructure, while fighting for the reproductive rights of all women.”

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Louisiana enacted one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans: outlawing abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy without exceptions for rape and incest; allowing the procedure only when a pregnant person’s life is in danger. Opponents legally challenged the measure, passed in 2006 in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling. It was initially blocked in court, but ultimately allowed to take effect last month.

As legal challenges failed, and the state’s three abortion clinics announced plans to close and relocate out of state, the New Orleans mayor, city council, sheriff and district attorney vowed to oppose the ban. The city council passed a resolution directing officials — including police and prosecutors — not to use city funds to enforce it. New Orleans police directed officers not to issue summonses or make arrests under the law. Similar actions have been taken by other Democratic cities in predominantly Republican states.

“Equal access to abortion care is essential for social and economic equality and reproductive autonomy,” the council’s resolution said, emphasizing its “commitment to protecting the rights of its residents to make reproductive health decisions, including abortion care.”

Landry — who is considered a likely candidate for governor next year — said he considered the council’s action a direct challenge to state authority. He serves on the commission, and when it first considered the city’s flood funding last month, his proxy opposed it, delaying a vote.

At Thursday’s meeting, Landry gave the New Orleans council an ultimatum: enforce the ban or lose the flood aid.

“If they want this project to move forward, rescind the resolution,” Landry said.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who opposes abortion, had supported the city’s flood funding, and his representatives on the board voted for it.

“The idea that you seek to punish all the people living in a certain area because you are at odds with some of their elected officials, that’s not a reasonable approach,” Edwards said when the vote was delayed last month.

On Thursday, Edwards’s executive counsel, Matthew Block, appeared on his behalf as a member of the commission and argued before the vote that the city’s position was moot since it does not have the power to prosecute those violating the ban and the state’s abortion clinics had closed.

“There are no abortions being performed in Louisiana, much less in Orleans Parish, right now,” Block said. “So this idea that because there were statements made and a resolution passed that, somehow in the future, there might not be enforcement of the law — that’s not happening right now.”

Block said the legislature should decide whether city projects receive state financing, as it had in approving New Orleans’ officials’ request for flood aid, not the bond commission.

State Sen. Bret Allain, a Republican who serves on the commission, told members it was “problematic” for the state board to target New Orleans over its abortion stance.

But Landry disagreed, saying: “We should not defer the ability to use the tools at our disposal to bring them to heel.”

Jimmy Harris, a Democratic state senator from New Orleans serving as a proxy on the commission, told its members the funding would help protect about 384,000 people. Harris said he had just received a text about a storm underway that had prompted a flood advisory for the city.

“That’s what we’re dealing with. That’s what this particular project is attempting to help us, to where we don’t have to drown,” Harris said.

The historical peak of hurricane season is mid-September, with the busiest stretch from late August to mid-October. A given season averages 14 named storms, half potential hurricanes, but this year forecasters have predicted 14 to 20 named storms, including six to ten hurricanes.

Paul Rainwater, a lobbyist for the city of New Orleans who is a Republican, advised Landry and other members of his party at Thursday’s meeting not to link the abortion fight to flooding in New Orleans. Rainwater was part of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s response and recovery after Hurricane Katrina, which lead to the deaths of nearly 2,000 people. He reminded the commission that New Orleans represents 25 percent of the state’s economy, home to iconic sites like the Superdome, the National World War II Museum and Audubon Park.

Rainwater said the city’s latest flood response project would update power for pumps that ensure drinking water and sewer drainage amid storms. If funded, the project was on track to be completed by 2024.

“The situation the city has been through every hurricane season is a little bit stressful in that you’re constantly testing the turbines,” of the power system, Rainwater said after the vote. “These aren’t things that are nonessential.”

Rainwater said he plans to bring the issue back before the commission when they next meet Sept. 15.

“It’s not like they ignored the law — there’s no law that’s been broken. The city council expressed an opinion,” he said. “The city has a very strong view on this.”

It was not immediately clear whether New Orleans officials would be invited to appear at next month’s commission meeting.

City Council President Helena Moreno condemned the commission’s vote and asked commission members to meet with her. She referred to reports of a Baton Rouge woman denied an abortion last month after doctors found her fetus was missing part of its skull and unlikely to survive.

“It is disappointing to see the lack of compassion for women facing these horrific and painful circumstances,” Moreno said in a statement. “The fact that the city of New Orleans is being punished for its careful consideration of new state laws is troubling and inappropriate. The project delayed is a vital flood protection initiative to save lives, property, and businesses in our city.”

Cantrell, the city’s first female mayor, gained a political following helping her hard-hit neighborhood recover from Hurricane Katrina. She said she and other city officials plan to continue pressuring the commission to approve the project’s state funding. But she said rescinding her stance against the abortion ban was not an option.

“I am hopeful that they will do the right thing,” she said Friday. “Our utility is in desperate need of an upgrade. It is over a hundred years old. It has not been able to keep up with the changing climate.”

Similar clashes may be brewing in other states where Democrat city leaders have mounted resistance to new abortion bans that Republican state leaders championed. In neighboring Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton last month sued to block the Biden administration from forcing doctors and hospitals to perform abortions or lose federal funding, but he has yet to challenge cities that have passed measures opposing the state ban.

Additionally, Austin city officials voted last month to “decriminalize” abortion, redirecting the city’s budget to prosecute other crimes. San Antonio’s city council passed a similar resolution this month.

Dozens of prosecutors nationwide — including at least five in Texas representing some of the state’s most populous counties — have promised not to pursue charges against those seeking or providing abortions.

In response, Texas lawmakers are crafting a new law they plan to propose when the legislature convenes in January that would “empower district attorneys from throughout the state to prosecute abortion-related crimes … when the local district attorney fails or refuses to do so,” wrote Rep. Mayes Middleton, chairman of the conservative Texas Freedom Caucus.

In Missouri, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed a bill to direct $1 million in federal relief funds to support access to abortions after Roe was overturned. Hours later, the state’s Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed suit to block the new law, issuing a statement calling it “blatantly illegal.”

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Louisiana rapper JayDaYoungan is ambushed and shot dead by five men

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Rapper JayDaYoungan was shot dead by five men who ambushed him while he and his father were sitting outside their Louisiana home.

The musician, whose real name was Javorius Scott, was shot at least eight times according to his father, Kenyatta Scott, who was shot twice in the arm. 

Speaking to TMZ, Scott told how he and his 24-year-old son were sitting on the lawn outside their Bogalusa home on Wednesday evening when a black truck pulled up in front of them and three people with guns jumped out.

Scott said as he and his son attempted to flee to their house they were met by two more people with guns who opened fire on them. 

The father had his own gun on him and shot back at the attackers. JayDaYoungan was rushed to the hospital while suffering heavy blood loss and died there after undergoing surgery. His father remains in the hospital in stable condition.

Despite Scott’s account police said they are only looking for one shooter, and have not yet identified any suspects. Bogalusa Police Chief Kendall Bullen told TMZ that his department is looking into all motives for the shooting, including gang related activity.

JayDaYoungan was signed to Atlantic records in 2017. He had just been released from prison in June for gun-related charges.

JayDaYoungan, 24, whose real name is Javorius Scott, died after being shot outside the home in Bogalusa, alongside a male relative, Kenyatta Scott Sr., police confirmed

Police made the announcement that JayDaYoungan had died just before midnight. Scott Sr. – who some reports say is the rapper’s father – was reported to be in stable condition 

Police outside JayDaYoungan’s Louisiana home after the shooting. The rapper’s blue car can be seen in the driveway

The rapper’s father said he did not believe the attack was gang-related, claiming his son didn’t have conflicts with anybody.

Instead Scott said he thought the attack was fueled by jealously, that the person behind the attack was envious of his son’s success. 

Scott said he hoped his son would be remembered as a ‘good, humble and respectful kid.’

JayDaJoungan’s grandfather, L.C. Jefferson told WDSU that the family was determined to find the killers.   

‘There will be no stone left unturned until we find out who took him,’ he said,

‘This is only what I hear. Someone came from behind the house with a ski mask on and gunned him down. In broad daylight. On a busy road. People have gotten so comfortable to where they think they can shoot someone down and not be caught.’

Police outside the home of JayDayYoungan after he was shot dead on Wednesday evening

The rapper’s father said he did not believe the attack was gang-related, claiming his son didn’t have conflicts with anybody

Instead Scott said he thought the attack was fueled by jealously, that the person behind the attack was envious of his son’s success

JayDaJoungan’s grandfather, L.C. Jefferson (above) told WDSU that the family was determined to find the killers

Two other shootings where nobody was hurt took place nearby that same night.  Police say they were related to the attack that killed JayDaYoungan but have not provided any further details.

Bogalusa mayor Wendy Perrette called for vigilance on the part of community members to put an end to local violence. 

‘The senseless shooting in Bogalusa [is] another tragic reminder of the pain that violent crime brings with it,’ she said in a statement, ‘My thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ family and friends. As your mayor and as a mother I plead on behalf of our community and for our children: today must mean enough is finally enough. Stop the violence! See something, say something.’

JayDaYoungan faced five years in prison for the gun charges, but was released in June and credited with time served

JayDaYoungan was signed to Atlantic records in 2017. He had worked alongside rappers like Lil Durk, Boosie Badazz, Moneybagg Yo, and Lato

 In October of 2021 police caught JayDaYoungan with a 9mm pistol he was not permitted to carry due to indictments he was facing in Texas over charges of assault on a pregnant woman and illegal possession of Oxycodone.

He faced five years in prison for the gun charges, but was released last month and credited with time served. 

JayDaYoungan was also out on $175,000 bond at the time after a September 21 arrest for suspicion of being accessory to second degree murder and obstruction of justice.

That arrest stemmed from an August 2020 incident in which a gunman fired a gun in a crowd of about 100 people, unintentionally killing a 21-year-old. It is unclear whether JayDaYoungan was connected to the shooting.

The rapper was a proud father to a young son, who he often shared photos of on his Instagram account

The rapper was a proud father to a young son, who he often shared photos of on his Instagram account. 

In his last Instagram post – made a day ago – JayDaYoungan rapped while dancing and playing with his son.

JayDaYoungan’s most well known singles are Opps, 23 Island, and Elimination. His 2019 album Misunderstood reached #43 on the top 200 Billboard charts.

After dropping out of high school at 18 to pursue music, the rapper saw early success releasing his music on YouTube and promoting himself through social media. 

JayDaYoungan was signed to Atlantic records in 2017. He had worked alongside rappers like Lil Durk, Boosie Badazz, Moneybagg Yo, and Lato.

It is unclear how much money the 24-year-old made in his short career, but a 2021 press release from Atlantic Records said he had garnered at least 2.8billion streams from across the globe. 

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Rapper JayDaYoungan shot outside Louisiana home, dead at 24

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Up-and-coming rapper JayDaYoungan died after suffering gunshot wounds Wednesday night outside his home in Louisiana.

The 24-year-old musician, known for his hits “23 Island” and “Elimination,” was shot along with a male relative, Kenyatta Scott Sr., Bogalusa Police Department confirmed to The Post.

The shooting took place just before 6 p.m., with the rapper — whose real name is Javorius Tykies Scott — being rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

JayDaYoungan ultimately died just before midnight, police said.

The rapper’s relative remains in stable condition.

“This is a very fluid situation. Our officers are working diligently to identify the subjects responsible for these crimes,” police said in a statement.

The 24-year-old was shot and killed outside his home in Louisiana.
Instagram/@jaydayoungan

Cops said another shooting happened about 30 minutes after the one involving the rapper. Officials said it was possible the shootings were linked. 

JayDaYoungan leaves behind a young son, according to his social media posts.

Just hours before his untimely death, the rapper posted a video on Instagram showing a child believed to be his son.

The rapper landed a music deal with Atlantic Records in 2017. According to his bio on Pandora, he gained popularity with “Spinning” and “Taking Off.”

His career saw him collaborate with artists including Lil Durk, Lato, and Moneybagg Yo. He released his debut album “23 Is Back” in June 2021. His mixtape “Forever 23” and first official studio effort “Baby23” both charted on Billboard.

He racked up over 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube and boasted a whopping 2.7 million followers on Instagram.

The shooting comes just one month after he was released from jail for gun-related charges. 

In October 2021, he was caught carrying a pistol he was not permitted to be armed with as he was simultaneously facing assault charges in Texas, as well as illegal possession of Oxycodone.

He was out on $175,000 bond at the time after being arrested in September 2021 on suspicion of being an accessory to second-degree murder.

It is still unclear whether the rapper was connected to the shooting.

He was sentenced to five years in jail for the gun charges, however, was released last month and credited with time served.



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JayDaYoungan Shot and Killed in Louisiana, His Father Also Shot

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JayDaYoungan has been shot and killed in his Louisiana hometown.

On Wednesday (July 27), reports began to surface online that 24-year-old JayDaYoungan and his father were allegedly shot in their hometown of Bogalusa, La. He was apparently shot outside a home on Superior Avenue. An incident appearing to match the details of the shooting was first officially reported by the Bogalusa Police Department’s Facebook page. They have since confirmed the rapper, born Javorius Scott, has died.

“We can now identify the victims as Javorius Scott, A.K.A. Jay da Youngin, and his father, Kenyatta Scott Sr.,” the police statement reads. “We can also confirm that Javorius Scott has died as a result of his injuries. Kenyatta Scott has been transported to another facility and we have been told he is in stable condition. Detectives are currently conducting interviews and working leads. Further information will follow as it becomes available.”

Bogalusa Police Department/Facebook

The BPD initially reported the crime as a double shooting via a press release on Facebook early Wednesday evening.

“On Wednesday, July 27th, 2022 at 5:50 pm the Bogalusa Police Department received a call of a shooting in the 600 block of Superior Avenue,” they revealed in their initial statement. “Officers responded and found that one victim had been transported by POV to Our Lady of the Angels Emergency Room. Another victim, still on scene, was critically wounded and was treated on scene by EMS, then transported to OLA ER. Their condition cannot be released at this time.”

The statement continued, “While working a chaotic scene at the hospital, and working the crime scene on Superior Avenue, another shooting took place in the 800 block of Marshall Richardson Road shortly after 7:00 pm. In that case a vehicle was shot, possibly related to the first shooting. The occupants were not hit. Detectives are also actively working that crime scene. This is a very fluid situation and the information we can release is limited at this time. Our Officers are working diligently to identify the subjects responsible for these crimes. We have several outside agencies assisting at this time.”

The Say Cheese TV Instagram account initially named the Atlantic Records rapper as the person shot following the BPD’s first announcement of the shooting incident, which didn’t mention Jay by name.

When reports of the shooting began to circulate across social media on Wednesday, a woman believed to be JayDaYoungan’s sister hit up Twitter to react to the news. While the woman, who goes by @kenyajanelll on the app, didn’t deny that the shooting happened, she was quick to dispel rumors that the rhymer had died in a series of tweets.

“Bitch, shut up,” wrote kenyaJ. “Y’all don’t know what the fuck y’all talking ’bout [for real]

“Ain’t nobody fucking dead,” she continued. “Stop dick eating and go read [a] book.”

She wrapped up her statements with: “I hate you internet freak niggas and hoes. Stop tryna confirm shit y’all don’t fucking know, bullshit asses.”

News of JayDaYoungan’s death follows a litany of serious legal issues for him over the past few years. This past June, he was released from prison after serving a seven-month bid. That case stemmed from a Louisiana judge sentencing him to time served on charges of possession of a firearm while under indictment for a felony. He pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Gun Control Act. Prior to his death, he was on house arrest as part of his release conditions. Last October, JayDaYoungan was arrested and slapped with charges including child desertion, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17 years of age and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with weapons present.

Just one month before that, the “Opps” spitter was arrested for second-degree murder and obstruction of justice as the result of a homicide that happened in Louisiana one month earlier. The incident left one person dead and two others injured.

JayDaYoungan rose to prominence in the late 2010s, with tracks like “Opps,” “23 Island” and “Elimination.” He’s released 14 projects including the album Baby23 in June of 2020. He released his most recent EP, All Is Well, in March.

XXL has reached out to JayDaYoungan’s team for comment.

See Hip-Hop Artists We Lost in 2022

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