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Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette praised the quick response of law enforcement and asked for the community to remain calm after an apparent fatal drive-by shooting Tuesday morning.

According to preliminary information, the female victim was an innocent bystander and not an intended target when the shots were fired in the 1400 block of Main Street.

Bogalusa Police Department officers were dispatched to shots fired at 1421 Main St. on Tuesday, shortly after noon. According to BPD officials, police arrived to a chaotic scene, and learned that a drive-by shooting had taken place. There were several people inside the residence at the time of the shooting.

One of the residents, Veronique Allen, 50, was in the front room of the home and was struck by gunfire. Allen was deceased when police arrived on the scene, BPD officials said.

Detectives are currently following several leads. Anyone with information is asked to call the BPD Detective Division at 985-732-6238.

This is an active and ongoing investigation. More information will be provided at a later time.

The Louisiana State Police, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, and federal authorities are assisting the BPD.

“We have had enough violence in Bogalusa, and I call on every citizen to cooperate with police while they investigate this horrible crime,” Perrette said. “The devaluing of human life in the name of the drug trade and gang allegiances should never happen anywhere, and the people of our community are fed up.”

“Bogalusa P.D. can’t do it alone,” she said. “We need every citizen to stand up, step forward, and unite against crime. We need to seek rational, lawful means to resolve disputes, and never resort to violence. We need our faith community to stand resolutely in reminding people that we worship a God of peace — a God who calls upon all of us to play a role in stemming the tide of violence.”