Crime
20-year-old Tavian Young Killed in Abbeville shooting
Authorities in Abbeville are actively investigating a shooting incident that left one man dead and a second victim hospitalized following a series of emergency calls on Friday, April 18.
According to the Abbeville Police Department, the initial call came in shortly after gunfire was reported in the 700 block of South Guegnon Street.
Moments later, police received a second report indicating that a vehicle had crashed into a utility pole in the parking lot of Landry’s Laundromat on Charity Street.
A third call was then placed advising that another shooting victim had been located on Prairie Avenue.
Investigators determined that the incident began when a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, traveling northbound on Guegnon Street, came under fire from an unknown assailant or assailants who discharged multiple .223 caliber rounds at the vehicle.
Tavian Young, 20, of Abbeville, who was inside the vehicle, was struck by a bullet on the right side of his torso, just beneath the armpit.
A second passenger, an unidentified female, sustained a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
Despite being under fire, the driver of the Tahoe continued north on Guegnon Street, then turned east onto Charity Street before losing control and crashing into a utility pole in the southeast corner of Landry’s Laundromat parking lot.
When first responders arrived at the crash scene, they discovered the vehicle resting against the utility pole with Tavian Young unresponsive inside.
Officers administered CPR, but despite life-saving efforts, Young was pronounced dead at the scene.
Responding units were then directed to Prairie Avenue, where the female victim was found with a gunshot wound to the head.
She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she remains in stable condition, authorities confirmed.
A third passenger, a three-year-old child, was also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. The child was not injured and was later released to a family member.
The Abbeville Police Department, in conjunction with other agencies, is continuing its investigation into the shooting.
No arrests have been made at this time, and authorities have not yet released details about potential suspects or a possible motive.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Abbeville Police Department.
Crime
Elgin Public Schools Teacher Holly Hill Dies From Complications Two Years After Drinking Poisoned Margarita
ELGIN, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has launched a formal investigation into the death of Holly Hill, a 30-year-old teacher, wife, and mother from Elgin, Oklahoma, who died last week from long-term medical complications reportedly caused by ingesting a poisoned margarita at a local restaurant in 2023.
OSBI officials confirmed that the investigation began at the request of Comanche County District Attorney Kyle Cabelka following Hill’s death on Thursday.
According to Hill’s family, her health issues began on Valentine’s Day 2023, when she dined at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin.
During the evening, Hill ordered a second margarita that, unbeknownst to her, contained a highly caustic industrial cleaning chemical rather than the intended cocktail ingredients.
“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” recalled Kelly Hunter, Hill’s mother. “She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, and rinsing her mouth out with water.”
The ingestion caused severe internal burns to Hill’s esophagus and digestive tract, leading to two years of intense medical treatment.
Hill underwent more than 60 medical procedures, including repeated esophageal dilations and surgeries, as doctors attempted to repair the extensive damage.
Despite her deteriorating health, Hill continued teaching at Elgin Public Schools, where she was described as a dedicated educator loved by her students and colleagues.
In the days leading up to her death, Hill’s family believed she was finally recovering.
On October 17, doctors reportedly told them that her esophagus appeared to be healing. However, her condition suddenly worsened, and she went into cardiac arrest as medical staff prepared to transfer her. “As they were trying to get her ready to transport her, they lost her pulse,” Hunter said.
Hill’s family previously filed a civil lawsuit against Hacienda Las Margaritas, which was settled confidentially earlier this year, according to their attorney.
Following her death, the family is renewing calls for accountability and public awareness.
“The number one thing we really want at this point is for people to be aware of what happened at that restaurant and to quit supporting them,” Hunter said. “We want them to be held accountable for taking my daughter’s life. It might have been a long fight, but ultimately, they are the cause.”
The restaurant has not issued a recent public statement regarding Hill’s death. In a 2023 social media post, management wrote:
“We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support them in any way possible while our insurance company is on the case.”
Local officials confirmed that Elgin Police requested assistance from OSBI, and investigators are now reviewing evidence related to the original 2023 incident and Hill’s recent death.
In a statement, Elgin Public Schools expressed deep sorrow over Hill’s passing, describing her as “an Owl through and through” and asking the community to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers.
Hill leaves behind her husband and young child, as well as a community still reeling from a tragedy that began with what should have been an ordinary night out.