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Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal is seeking the public’s help to identify a male suspect who forced his way into a parish residence, and reportedly struck a female victim with a pistol.

According to Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office officials, on a few minutes after midnight on Monday, Jan. 13, a man dressed in all black and wearing gloves and a ski mask over his face, forced his way into a residence on Louisiana Highway 424. He reportedly came into the bedroom of the victim, a 74-year-old woman who was watching five sleeping children at the time.

The intruder, who was armed with a pistol, demanded money from the victim, WPSO officials said. When she told him there was no money in the house, he reportedly threatened to kill her and took her late husband’s 12-gauge shotgun from a gun cabinet in the bedroom.

Officials said that as the suspect was getting the shotgun, the victim attempted to flee the bedroom, at which time he struck her in the back of the head with the pistol, causing an injury that required medical treatment. At that time he fled the residence.

Crimestoppers is offering a reward in this case. Any person with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 or go online at www.crimestoppersgno.org to leave information. Tipsters should use the case number 2020010529.

“If you know anything about this crime, please contact Crimestoppers,” Seal said. “This criminal must be stopped before he does the same thing to another person. Help us identify him so we can locate and arrest him.

“He is obviously a person with low morals and no regard for human life. Let’s put him in jail where he belongs.”