By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – The prime suspect is still being sought in the shooting near Club Fusion on Airline Highway in LaPlace, which occurred on Mar. 6. The St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office identified Jevon Johnson, 20, of LaPlace, based on witnesses at the crime scene.

Maj. Michael Tregre reported the sheriff’s office being notified of a Shooting at the night spot at about 12:28 a.m. that Sunday morning.

“We’re still looking for him, said Tregre. We’re gonna get him.”

Officials are trying to work with Johnson’s family in order to negotiate and persuade Johnson to turn himself in to authorities.

The shooting victim, Ronald Ellis, 32, of LaPlace, was transported to River Parishes Hospital, by the time officers arrived.

Witnesses identified Johnson and a warrant was issued charging him with attempted second-degree murder.

Tregre reported that according to witnesses, bad blood had escalated earlier that evening between Johnson and Ellis.

Allegedly, Ellis’s 24-year-old step-daughter was Johnson’s target in an attempted shooting a week earlier, according to Tregre, but she was unharmed.

When the woman confronted Johnson inside the night club, Ellis intervened and the argument evolved into a fight. Club management threw to two out and the fight ended when Johnson pulled a gun and fired upon Ellis.

The bullet passed through Ellis’s abdomen, causing entrance and exit wounds.

Ellis is no longer under intensive care at River Parishes Hospital.