Fatal shooting arrest made after LaPlace killings

Published 12:11 am Saturday, October 10, 2015

KENNER — Numerous law enforcement agencies and police officers helped arrest a suspect this week following a deadly Monday shooting that cost two LaPlace residents their lives.

Derrence Greenup, 28, of Reserve is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. He was not given bond on the first-degree murder charges.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said Greenup was arrested Thursday without incident near Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner.

Tregre said his detectives and personnel from the U.S. Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security, Kenner Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Air Wing with air support aided in the arrest because their assistance was requested.

Detectives believe more suspects are involved with the shooting, but Tregre added as of press time Friday morning authorities are not releasing anything more to the public.

However, he said tips from the community have aided the investigation.

“There was a lot of phone calls, a lot of tips and text messages,” Tregre said. “They really gave us a lot of information.”

Tregre said deputies are doing all they can, exhausting every lead and every phone call.

“It could be rumor or whatever, they’ve been going at it non-stop,” he said. “They’ve been doing an awesome job, but we still have a ways to go.”

Investigators said Greenup had no family ties with the two victims — who were cousins — killed Monday and authorities are still working on a motive.

“Nothing has been confirmed,” Tregre said. “We are still trying to establish a motive. Right now we are still investigating.”

Travis Gregoire, 23, of LaPlace and Sierra Gregoire, 18, of LaPlace died Monday after a barrage of gunfire erupted at approximately 1:50 a.m. in the 400 block of State Street in LaPlace.

A third victim, a 23-year-old man, was injured and reported in stable condition this week at University Medical Center in New Orleans.

“We have reason to believe that the victims had just arrived in a vehicle of their own and were exiting the vehicle, and that’s when this white pick up truck drove up and opened fire,” Tregre said.

A white truck believed to be involved in the shooting was discovered Tuesday morning after it was set on fire in Reserve.

Authorities said it is unknown how many occupants were in the truck.

Authorities have not released information on how many gunshots were fired and what types of weapons may have been involved.

The deaths of Travis Gregoire and Sierra Gregoire represent the parish’s second and third killings of 2015.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Those that call Crimestoppers do not have to testify and may qualify for a cash reward.

Residents can also submit tips at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker