Local teen commits suicide in N.O. jail

Jaquin Thomas, a former junior high student at Ville Platte High, apparently committed suicide in his Orleans Parish jail cell on Monday night.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office released the following statement on Tuesday, October 18.
“The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the apparent suicide of a 15-year-old inmate Monday night. The inmate apparently used a mattress cover in his cell at the Orleans Justice Center to asphyxiate himself.
Inmate Jaquin Thomas, a youthful offender being tried as an adult, was found unresponsive in his cell at 9:19 p.m. Monday by a deputy making a scheduled security round. The deputy immediately called for assistance. Thomas was transported by EMS to University Medical Center for treatment, in accordance with OPSO procedures. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 10:11 p.m. Monday.
Thomas had been incarcerated since July 28, 2016 on charges of second degree murder and aggravated battery. Thomas’ family has been notified.”
Emily Lane with NOLA.com reported on Wednesday that arrest documents from OPSP stated that Thomas and his 34-year-old uncle Tyrance Chancellor forced their way into an apartment at the Chatueau d’Orleans complex around 3:30 a.m. on July 21. The arrest warrant for Chancellor states that he told police that his nephew Thomas fatally shot Hasahn Shawl, 24, during a scuffle.
Thomas was born in New Orleans but moved in with his grandmother Tina Thomas in Ville Platte following being evacuated due to Hurricane Katrina. According to NOLA.com, Tina Thomas said that her grandson was living in New Orleans over the summer to work at Tina’s brother’s car wash.
Ville Platte High girls basketball coach Dorothy Doulet, a relative of Thomas, told Lane that she was “very shocked and surprised” about Jaquin Thomas being arressted for second degree murder. “My thought was, if he would have stayed in Ville Platte, that wouldn’t have happened. In Ville Platte there was structure. ... His grandmother is here.”
Matt Sledge of The Advocate reported on Tuesday as well that Thomas had been originally had bail set $550,000 but due to the efforts of friends, family members, church leaders and teachers asking the Magistrate Court for mercy, the bail was reducted to $300,000.
Among those notables that wrote letters on Thomas behalf were Darwan Lazard, the pastor of Ninth Missionary Baptist Church and Assistant Superintedent of the Evangeline Parish School District, Mamou Mayor Ricky Fontenot and Doulet.
Fontenot told The Advocate’s Sledge that “People very often come in here and want me to write some type of letter, and it’s not very often that I do,” Fontenot said.
Fontenot further stated to The Advocate about his frustration over Thomas being locked up with adults -- instead of teenagers stating, “I understand what Jaquin was charged with. Guilty or not guilty, the charge is bad enough. But his age was still 15. Somebody, some way should have said, ‘These people are saying he was a good kid, so let’s put him with juveniles.’ I just don’t understand throwing him in with the wolves.”
OPSO said the “investigation will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review and determination.”