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On Saturday, July 23, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a man who had been shot in the vicinity of Sunny Hill Road in the Mt. Hermon area, according to WPSO Chief Criminal Deputy Mike Haley.

Arriving on the scene, deputies reportedly discovered a male victim who had been shot several times in the chest and face. The victim was treated on the scene by District 9 Fire Department personnel, Northshore EMS personnel and deputies on the scene before being transported by ambulance to Riverside Medical Center, where an air ambulance was waiting to relocate him to a trauma center.

Haley said that WPSO detectives responded to the scene and took control of the investigation, which led to the shooter being identified ass Tyler Oatis, 18, a resident of Gill Road, and the location of the shooting at the intersection of Highway 38 and Sunny Hill Road.

A warrant was obtained for Oatis’ arrest and he was apprehended in Pike County, Miss., Haley said. He was extradited to Washington Parish on Tuesday. Oatis was scheduled to stand before a 22nd Judicial Magistrate Judge on Thursday, at which time a bond amount would be established.

“This investigation is ongoing,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “It is likely there will be additional arrests. It is a complicated situation revolving around the issue of illegal drugs. I congratulate our deputies and detectives for their prompt response and good work in this matter.”