Scott man convicted of attempted murder in 2018 shooting near elementary school
Eldridge Thomas, Jr. was found guilty on Thursday of attempted second degree murder of John Cedric Chaisson, stemming from a 2018 shooting near Westside Elementary School in Scott.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- A man was convicted of attempted murder as the reult of a 2018 dispute between neighbors in Scott that led to gunfire, authorities said.
Eldridge Thomas, Jr. was found guilty on Thursday of attempted second degree murder of John Cedric Chaisson, stemming from a 2018 shooting near Westside Elementary School in Scott.
Thomas was also found guilty by the jury of home invasion, aggravated flight from an officer, and aggravated burglary. 15th Judicial District Judge Cynthia Spadoni ordered that a pre-sentence investigation from Louisiana Department of Corrections be completed by April 4.
Thomas faces up to 115 years in prison for his convictions, with up to 50 years for attempted second degree murder, and up to an additional 30 years for aggravated burglary, 30 years for home invasion and five years for aggravated flight from an officer, officials said.
The shooting occurred on Sept. 4, 2018 on Marina Avenue, just a block from the elementary school, at 7:32 a.m. as parents and children were walking to school, authorities said. The incident resulted in the lockdown of the school until Thomas was apprehended.
Police said Thomas was involved in an argument with his neighbor, Chaisson, retrieved a firearm from his home and fired it at his neighbor. School bus video and the victim's home surveillance video showed that Thomas fired a handgun numerous times at Chaisson, with one round striking the victim. Chaisson was taken to a local hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound and survived.
Thomas fled the scene in his pickup truck, but was stopped and arrested minutes later by Scott Police officers on Apollo Road, prosecutors said.
District Attorney Don Landry praised law enforcement for their quick response.
"Our prosecutors and Scott Police officers worked very hard on this case, and we will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our children and the community," Landry said.
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