Mardi Gras Day Shootings
HAMMOND, LA - Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards reports on two separate incidents that occurred in the early morning hours of February 9, 2016, in Hammond, LA.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., an 18 year old black male was checked into North Oaks Medical Center with two gunshot wounds to the leg. When detectives arrived, the victim stated that several subjects were outside of an apartment located on Rufus Bankston Rd. playing dice. As the game progressed, an argument ensued between two of the subjects. Subsequently, one of them pulled out a black semi automatic and fired several shots striking the victim twice in the leg.
The suspect is identified as a black male, approximately 120 pounds and was wearing a black hoodie and brown pants.
The victim received non-life threatening injuries as a result of the shooting.
Detectives are actively investigating this incident and are asking anyone with information to please contact Crime Stoppers.
In what is still believed to be a completely separate incident, on that same morning at around 9:30 a.m., a male subject called 911 stating that the passenger in his vehicle had been shot. The complaint stated he was traveling near the intersection of Rufus Bankston Rd. and Wardline when he was startled by the sound of a loud popping noise. Within moments he realized his passenger, 19 year old Gerrell Lee had been shot and succumbed to his death as a result of a gunshot wound.
At this time, detectives are actively investigating this homicide and are interviewing witnesses who were in the area at the time of the alleged shooting.
Sheriff Edwards is asking anyone with information regarding this shooting to please come forward and contact Crime Stoppers at 800.554.5245.
