By VICKIE JAMBON, Staff Reporter

ST. ROSE – A schoolyard-type argument over a girl is a possible motive cited for one St. Rose teen gunning down and killing another, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Greg Champagne said Ashton Lee, 17, turned himself in to the St. Rose Detective’s Bureau when he heard authorities were looking for him in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Calvin Armstrong.

Lee’s family accompanied Lee to the Detective’s Bureau, and he was charged with second-degree murder.

Lee remains in the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center, in lieu of a $1 million bond set by 29th Judicial District Judge Robert Chaisson, set Thursday morning.

Authorities allege Lee shot at Armstrong five times. One of the bullets fired from a .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun went through the teen’s right arm before lodging in his chest.

The shooting took place on the 500 block of Mockingbird Lane. However, Armstrong managed to run to a nearby residence before collapsing on the ground.

Neighbors called authorities to report the Wednesday incident at 12:20 p.m.

Authorities arrived on the scene in two minutes to find Armstrong still alive.

The youth was rushed to the East Jefferson Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Neighborhood residents told authorities they heard Lee was the person who shot Ashton.

Champagne said it was a strong possibility the murder was a result of certain comments Ashton made to Lee’s girlfriend.

“All three lived close to one another. We believe Ashton told Lee’s girlfriend that Lee was making derogatory comments about her. It is possible Ashton wanted to establish a relationship with Lee’s girlfriend,” said Champagne.

The sheriff went on to speculate that Lee’s girlfriend believed Ashton.

“We allege she told Lee that she no longer wanted to see him. This is why we think Lee went looking for Ashton,” said Champagne.

Authorities believe that Lee may have shot Ashton over the comments Ashton made to Lee’s girlfriend.

“Guns are a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Unfortunately this is the society our teens are growing up in,” said Champagne.