Deadly Hammond Drive-By Shooting Under Investigation

HAMMOND (February 23, 2026)- The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) is asking for the public’s help in its investigation of a drive-by shooting over the weekend that killed a teenager.

Around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, TPSO received reports of shots fired on the I-55 northbound entrance ramp at University Avenue. Deputies arrived to find two vehicles pulled over on the on-ramp with one of the drivers, 18-year-old Ravell Javion Steptoe, dead from a gunshot wound. Two other occupants from the vehicles were unharmed.

Deputies learned the two vehicles, a black Kia sedan driven by the victim, and a newer model blue Ford Mustang driven by the victim’s relative, had pulled over to exchange an item. While pulled over, a third vehicle drove past, firing at the cars, fatally striking Steptoe.

At this time, there is limited information about the shooter, suspect vehicle, or motive in this case.

Detectives are asking anyone who was in the area of I-55 and University around 2 a.m. Sunday morning to report any vehicles or activity they observed in the area.

Please contact our Criminal Investigations Office at 985-902-2088. If you’d prefer to share information anonymously, you can do so through CrimeStoppers of Tangipahoa’s tip line at 1-800-554-5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com and click onthe P3 Tips icon or Submit A Tip!

Tips submitted directly through Crimestoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.

TPSO Public Information Office, pio@tpso.org