Following the eruption of gunfire in Garyville, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office has swiftly apprehended two suspects, while a manhunt continues for another implicated individual, identified as Clarence Scott Jr., who not only survived a gunshot wound from the clash but is also a suspect in the very incident that led to his injury, according to a Facebook post by the St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office.
On Tuesday, February 3, at approximately 2:42 p.m., chaos pierced the relative calm of the 100 block of Historic West Street in Garyville when a deputy, while on patrol, heard multiple gunshots which prompted an immediate investigation into the source; moments later, several individuals were seen running from the scene, one armed with an AR-15 style firearm, despite the urgent nature of the situation, Scott who was later treated at University Medical Center in New Orleans for a gunshot wound to his thigh has been less than cooperative with the authorities. The St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office is urging those with any knowledge of Scott's whereabouts, or any details relevant to the shooting, to reach out via their TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS, to Detective Doug Buckler at the Criminal Investigations Division at 985-233-9331, or to Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
As the investigation progresses, Scott, now released from the hospital, faces charges of possession of firearms/carry concealed weapon by convicted felon and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities; meanwhile, the two arrested suspects – Ashley Johnson, Jr., a 19-year-old from Reserve, along with a 16-year-old juvenile – have been connected to the incident, with Johnson charged with aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, the juvenile shares similar charges and an additional illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile count, the duo was captured around 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday following a traffic stop in Reserve, as reported by the St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office.
The brazen midday shooting not only endangered the life of Clarence Scott Jr. but also inflicted damage on the community, leaving several houses and a car pockmarked with bullet holes, the aftermath of the shooting revealed by spent shell casings scattered along Historic West Street; the violence once more mocks the sanctity of these streets, the seemingly sudden gunfire actually a link in the chain of events that stretches back beyond the eye can see, beyond the memory can remember and expressly it paints a grim tableau of the perils still lurking in corners of our shared spaces.
