By VICKIE JAMBON

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – A shootout occurred Tuesday evening at 5:20 p.m. between two gunmen in the parking lot of the Cash-N-Carry convenience store located at the corner of East 13th Street and River Road in Reserve. One man died from four gunshot wounds, while the other man was arrested for his killing, said Public Information Officer Sgt. Dane Clement with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Brandon Collins, 22, of 363 N.W. Second Street, Reserve called the Sheriff’s Office and told authorities he shot 21-year-old Reserve resident Robert Jones, said Clement. When officers from the Criminal Investigation Division arrived at the scene of the crime, Collins surrendered.

Collins was charged with manslaughter and was booked into the Sherman Walker Correctional Center.

While being interrogated, Collins told authorities Jones fired at him while he (Collins) was sitting in his car. Collins confessed he got out of his vehicle and began firing back at Jones – striking him with bullets from his weapon.

“Robert Jones fired a .380 caliber handgun at Brandon Collins. Collins fired a semi-automatic assault rifle at Jones,” said Clement. “Jones was struck four times and was transported to Charity Hospital in New Orleans.”

According to Clement, Jones was alive when he arrived at the hospital on Tuesday. However, he died shortly after midnight.

Clement said Jones’ weapon was recovered from the parking lot of the convenience store and Collins’ weapon was retrieved from his car.

“This (shooting) incident may have been a continuation of a fight that began between Jones and Collins’ brother outside the Dreams nightclub (located at 944 Hwy. 44) in Reserve Friday night, Dec. 24,” said Clement. “Collins was not present that night. He was not involved in the original argument.”