A weekend party at a short-term rental home in Hammond turned violent late Saturday, leaving a 24-year-old man wounded and a quiet block suddenly part of an active crime scene, according to deputies with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office.
Authorities say the victim arrived at an area hospital with gunshot wounds and has since been treated and released. Investigators report that both a house and a nearby car were hit by gunfire, and the case remains under investigation.
Scene and Timeline
According to Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies were called around 10:30 p.m. Saturday after reports of multiple shots fired near East Gate Drive and Pleasant Ridge Road. When they arrived, they found a car and a residence in the 18000 block of East Gate with visible bullet damage, but no victim at the scene.
Roughly 10 minutes later, a 24-year-old man showed up at an area hospital with gunshot wounds and was later discharged, the agency said in its release.
Short-Term Rental Party Under Investigation
Detectives say the gunfire appears to have broken out during a party at a house being used as a short-term rental, a detail that is now part of the ongoing probe. Investigators have not released a motive, identified any suspects, or said how many people were at the gathering.
Local TV coverage flagged the rental-party angle as authorities renewed their call for public help. As reported by WAFB, officials are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Recent Violence in Hammond
The shooting adds to a run of recent violence in Hammond. On Feb. 12, an attack at the Willow Villa townhome complex left one person dead and several others injured. That earlier case resulted in an arrest and sharpened community concerns about public safety, local outlets reported. FOX 8 covered the prior shooting and its aftermath.
How to Help Investigators
The sheriff’s office is urging anyone who saw or recorded anything near East Gate Drive and Pleasant Ridge Road that night to contact investigators. Tips can be directed to the Tangipahoa Parish Criminal Investigations Office at 985-902-2088 or to Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa at 1-800-554-5245. Anonymous tips may be eligible for a reward.
The agency says detectives are reviewing cellphone and door-camera video from the East Gate Drive area as they work to piece together what happened. For the department's full account, see the release from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office.
