Three More Arrests Made in Connection with Troup Murder

TROUP — Three more people, all Troup residents, have been arrested in connection with the July murder of 30-year-old Jordan LaDue in that city. Troup police tell KETK they’re Jana Lang and Casey Luna (pictured), both 28, and Ralph Paul Pressley. Lang was arrested for tampering with physical evidence with the intent to impair and booked into the Smith County Jail on $500,000 bond. Luna was jailed for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and a parole violation. Police say they are investigating whether or not the gun found in Luna’s possession is connected to the shooting of LaDue. Lang was booked into the Smith County Jail on $510,000 bond. Pressley was taken into custody on an unlawful possession of a firearm charge. His bond is set at $500,000.

On July 14, police were called to a West Duval Street location around 12:20 a.m. and found LaDue. He died at the scene while EMS tried to assist him. However, police say LaDue wasn’t shot where he was found. The initial investigation revealed he got into an argument at a house on North Noble Street and shots were fired. A woman then took him to the West Ducal location and called police. Smith County SWAT and the Tyler Police Department were called to help Troup police with the investigation. When they arrived at the residence on North Noble, officials believed the suspected shooter was still inside. SWAT began negotiations and Tyler police sent a robot strapped with a camera into the residence after receiving a signed warrant. The alleged shooter was not inside.

Police identified the suspected shooter as Joshua Adam Scales, 29. He was located at a relative’s house in Reklaw on July 17. Scales was booked into the Smith County Jail, where he remains on $1,000,000 bond.