L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – A group of burglars invading a St. Rose home Monday evening got more than they bargained for when the homeowner fought back and wrestled a gun away from one of them, according to St. Charles Parish authorities.

One of the suspects, John Jackson of Fourth Street in St. Rose, 19, was arrested after being treated for injuries sustained in the struggle with the homeowner, said Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, spokesman for the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

John Jackson

Another suspect, Kenneth Nelson of Mockingbird Lane in St. Rose, 19, who was also injured, has an arrest warrant waiting for him once he leaves the intensive care unit at LSU Interim Hospital in New Orleans. LaGrange said two more suspects remain at large as of Friday.

According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Jackson, Nelson and two other unidentified men allegedly forced their way into a home on Fourth Street Monday around 11:25 p.m. looking for money. The men came in contact with the homeowner, who managed to wrestle a gun away from one of the suspects, LaGrange said. The homeowner then fired shots at the intruders, striking Jackson and Nelson. All four men then fled the scene.

Shortly after the shooting, deputies located Jackson and Nelson in a vehicle near Jackson’s home with family members tending to their injuries. Jackson received a gunshot wound to his arm, but Nelson’s wounds were more serious. LaGrange said Nelson remains in ICU recovering from surgery.

After leaving the hospital, Jackson was charged with aggravated burglary and armed robbery. LaGrange said investigators are still tracking down leads in the case and more arrests are expected in the coming days. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s detectives at 985-783-1135.