One injured in Jeanerette shooting, search for weapon underway

JEANERETTE, La. (KLFY) — One man is injured and another is behind bars after a shooting near the intersection of Bourg and Main streets in Jeanerette.

At 4:22 P.M. Thursday night, women working inside the Subway on Bourg Street locked the doors and called police. A man about 30 years old had just stumbled in followed by a trail of blood.

“He was bleeding very, very profusely,” recalled Jeanerette City Marshal and Interim Police Chief Fernest Martin. “That’s a great concern anytime you get a gunshot wound, and you know you are bleeding as fast as he was and as heavy as he was.”

Martin believes multiple shots were fired at the victim, but he was only hit once in the upper arm near his shoulder. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but the information he gave to Jeanerette law enforcement led to a quick arrest minutes later.

“We feel probably approximately 5-7 minutes an arrest was made after responding to the shooting which is outstanding,” Martin said. “I want to commend my guys for a job well done.”

Officers brought the suspect to the police department where he gave a full confession after an hours-long interrogation.

Authorities were unable to find a weapon or bullet casings Thursday night.  They will expand their search to Bayou Teche Friday morning. That’s where the suspect confessed to throwing his gun.

“Officers did a great job of responding, but I would not take the credit,” Martin remarked. “The community took a step. They were vocal, and they wanted this crime solved, and with their help, we were able to do just that, solve this crime.”

The suspect was transported to Iberia jail. Marshall Martin said The Saint Martin Sheriff’s Office’s dive team will be contacted to search Bayou Teche Friday.