By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – A LaPlace man wanted in connection with the May shooting of a LaPlace man turned himself in, upon learning the St. John Sheriff’s Office sought him with an arrest warrant.

Timothy Charles Jr., 22, of 2912 Concordia Dr., allegedly shot Yarnell Randle, 26, five times on May 5 during a dispute that stemmed from Randle’s apparent theft of Charles’ property.

Authorities booked Charles at the St. John Correctional Center with a $350,000 bond for attempted second degree murder and theft, and are still seeking one other suspect in the crime.

Charles and two others reportedly confronted Randle in front of the Minute-Stop in Reserve at 8 p.m. on May 5 and unloaded three shots into his leg and two into his abdomen before they fled the scene in a white vehicle with Randle’s bullet-ridden body laying in the parking lot.

A store employee witnessed the shooting and called authorities, whom arrived immediately and transported Randle to River Parishes Hospital and later transferred him to University Hospital in New Orleans, where he was being treated as of press time.

Charles claimed the incident developed roughly a week before the shooting when a group of individuals robbed him and stole a $700 necklace in the shape of cross with four inset diamonds, which he later discovered was being worn by Randle, according to the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

Charles and the other man spotted Randle at the Minute-Stop on May 5 when Charles confronted Randle and attempted to take back his chain. Charles believed Randle tried to draw a firearm when Charles pulled out his gun and shot Randle five times, then retrieved his chain while his cohort stole a stereo out of Randle’s vehicle and both men fled the scene, according to Charles’ statement to the St. John Sheriff’s Office.