Father Hallford recovering from gunshot wounds

Father Ryan Hallford, former pastor at Holy Family Church in Port Allen and who is on personal leave from that position and from his sacramental duties, was shot on May 23 in an incident with his brother.

According to the Tangipahoa Civil Parish Sheriff’s Office, Casey Hallford, 31, shot his three siblings, including Father Hallford, on the morning of May 23. TPSO Chief Jimmy Travis said Casey Hallford, 31, and his girlfriend Ariannai  Williams, 19, have been charged in the shooting.

Casey Hallford is facing three counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of illlegal discharge of a weapon in the shooting, which occurred at the Toula Oaks Trailer Park in Ponchatoula.

Williams has been charged with three counts of principle to attempted first-degree murder.

Two of the siblings were treated and released, while Father Ryan Hallford remains hospitalized.

In a statement released May 25, the Diocese said Father Hallford “remains on a leave of absence in good standing.”

“Our prayers go out to Father Ryan Hallford and the others who were injured in (the) tragic incident,” the statement read.

Father Hallford was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 2017.

Travis reported that deputies responded to the Toula Oaks Trailer Park following a report of shots being fired shortly after 11 a.m. on May 23. The caller recalled hearing approximately 15 gunshots and advised a male subject was laying on the ground.

Upon arrival deputies learned Casey Hallford had shot all three of his siblings before fleeing into the woods with Williams. Deputies, along with a K9 search team, began searching for the duo, who were located shortly after and taken into custody without incident.

Preliminary investigation revealed that during a verbal altercation between the siblings, Casey Hallford retrieved a firearm from his bedroom and proceeded to shoot one of his siblings. As the other two siblings fled to their bedrooms, Casey Hallford individually sought them out, shot them and fled the scene, according to TPSO.

Travis said Father Hallford, who is a resident of Baton Rouge, owned the trailer in which Casey Hallford and Williams were living and paying the expenses associated with the trailer park. The day of the shooting Father Hallford informed Casey Hallford that he would have to start paying his own expenses.

It was during this discussion when Casey Hallford allegedly retrieved the weapon and begin firing.

Earlier in his life, Father Hallford had assumed the responsibility of his three young siblings.

He is currently the executive director of mission integration at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge. 

Holy Family Church prayed the rosary for him on May 24.

St. John the Evangelist church in Prairieville held a prayer service on May 25.

By May 26 Father Hallford’s conditional was updated to fair and two days later, it was learned through a source, that Father Hallford was sitting up and talking in his room.