By LEONARD GRAY – Managing Editor

RESERVE – Both suspects have surrendered to authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish’s second homicide of the year – a reported drive-by shooting.

Each are charged with one count of first-degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property and five counts of attempted first-degree murder.

No bonds were allowed from 40th Judicial District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy due to the nature of the charge.

Capt. Michael Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office said that Wendell James, 19, of 2704 Williamsburg Drive in LaPlace, turned himself in Tuesday morning, following the April 9 shooting death of Lionel “Scooter” Joseph Griffin on a quiet residential street in Reserve.

Griffin, 20, of 310 E. 24th St. had just returned home from getting a haircut when a passing yellow or cream-colored Buick Century passed in front of the house, where Griffin talked with several friends, according to Tregre.

Six or seven gunshots broke the stillness of the evening at 6:15 p.m. and Griffin was the only person struck by bullets, Tregre said, and added that the aggravated criminal damage charge resulted from a bullet striking a parked car during the incident.

Detectives continued to pursue the case, and the second suspect, Shannon “Shane” Brown, 20, of 347 Historic Main St. In Garyville, likewise surrendered at 3:48 p.m. Thursday, according to Tregre.

Tregre fell short of calling the homicide gang-related and added that the incident “involves a group of young men who seem to have problems whenever they meet up.”

The sheriff’s office received the call of the April 9 shooting at 6:48 p.m., and Griffin was transported first to River Parishes Hospital for initial treatment and stabilization, then transferred to Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

There, Tregre said, Griffin succumbed to his wound at 10:45 p.m.

Brown had earlier provided a statement to police on the morning after the April 9 shooting, but detectives lacked the evidence to secure a warrant. A warrant was later issued and a “wanted” bulletin went out, prompting Brown’s surrender.

This was the second reported homicide of 2004, Tregre said, the first being that of Edward Placide Sr. in February. His son, Edward Jr., is awaiting trial on that case.

Anyone with further information for investigator Lt. Ken Mitchell is asked to call 652-2773, Tregre added.