The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office has arrested two Chalmette men and has issued an arrest warrant for a man from Violet in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17 in Violet, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Ben Lucas, 22, of the 3400 block of Jupiter Drive in Chalmette, was booked Oct. 17 with principal to illegal use of weapons and obstruction of justice.
Raquian Bell, 18, of the 8100 block of West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, was booked Oct. 21 for illegal use of weapons and obstruction of justice.
A warrant has been issued for Terrance Major, 21, of the 3100 block of Stacie Drive in Violet, for illegal use of weapons, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and obstruction of justice.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about shots being fired and several vehicles being struck near the intersection of Daniel and Stacie Drives in Violet.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found several spent casings on the ground, but no vehicles or victims.
Shortly after, deputies responded to a second call in which a shooting victim was requesting medical attention near the intersection of Golden and East Josephine Drives in Chalmette.
When deputies arrived on the second scene, they came into contact with Major who advised he had been shot in the right leg.
During the course of the investigation, detectives with the Criminal Investigations Bureau determined both incidents were linked and the shooting had taken place in the 3100 block of Stacie Drive.
Detectives learned Lucas, the driver, Bell, the front seat passenger, and Major, the back seat passenger, were inside a vehicle on Stacie Drive when they were targeted by and returned gunfire with unidentified suspects.
Lucas and Bell fled the scene, and Major retreated to Golden Drive where he called for help.
Major was transported to an area hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Lucas and Bell were later located, taken into custody, and transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked on the above charges.
Criminal history checks were conducted on all three subjects which revealed Lucas and Major are both convicted felons.
The investigation is ongoing.
Citizens who want to share information with detectives about criminal activity pertaining to St. Bernard Parish or any of its residents, can do so anonymously through the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau’s new tip hotline, (504) 271-TIPS or 8477.
The Sheriff said callers can leave a detailed message, and either choose to provide their contact information, or remain anonymous.
