BPD: Drive-by shooting investigation leads to drug bust
Published 12:10 pm Wednesday, February 9, 2022
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On Sunday, Feb. 6, officers responded to a residence on William Peters Road in reference to a shooting incident that occurred the previous evening, according to Major Wendell O’Berry of the Bogalusa Police Department.
An investigation was opened. It was learned that a car drove by the residence the previous evening, and approximately 14 shots were fired at five juveniles in the yard, O’Berry said. Detectives were reportedly able to identify the car and five juvenile suspects in the car, to include the identity of the suspect who fired the shots.
On Tuesday morning, arrest warrants were obtained for the suspects, as well as two search warrants. Detectives and Violent Crimes Task Force officers executed the first search warrant at a residence on East Third Street.
During a search of that residence, officers seized approximately 4.5 pounds of marijuana and $76,610 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the distribution of illegal narcotics, O’Berry said. Jan McMurray was detained and later charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses.
O’Berry said a second search warrant was then executed at a residence on North Royal Street. There, officers reportedly located and arrested one of the juvenile suspects involved in the drive by shooting, a 16-year-old male. He was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting, two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Officers also seized almost 37 pounds of marijuana at the residence, O’Berry said. Also arrested at the residence was Jadyn Gatlin, charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and resisting an officer, and Sarina Pittman, charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
O’Berry said that two juveniles, a male and a female, were located and arrested at Bogalusa High School. They were both 15 years of age. They were charged with five counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder and principal to assault by drive-by shooting. A 13-year-old female suspect was later brought to BPD headquarters by her parents and charged with five counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder and principal to assault by drive-by shooting, O’Berry said.
The three adults arrested were booked into the Bogalusa City Jail, and later transported to the Washington Parish Jail. The four juveniles arrested will not be identified by name due to their ages. They were booked at the Bogalusa City Jail and transferred to the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center, pending 72-hour hearings.
O’Berry said Wednesday afternoon that one juvenile suspect from the drive-by shooting was still at large. Arrest warrants have been issued for five counts of attempted first-degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting, illegal use of dangerous weapons, and two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property.
Anyone who believes they may have information concerning this incident can contact the BPD Detectives Division at 985-732-6238. Callers may remain anonymous if they wish to do so.