By ROBIN SHANNON
Staff Reporter

RESERVE – A Reserve woman was shot and killed inside a car following a botched robbery attempt along E. 24th Street early Tuesday, said a spokesman for the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

Nakesha Nichelle Joseph, 27, was hit multiple times by gunfire after two men tried to rob her and 36-year-old Ron James, said Maj. Mike Tregre, public information officer for the St. John Sheriff’s Office. Tregre said James, who was shot in the leg, was treated and released from River Parishes Hospital.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, the two victims were sitting inside a vehicle in the 200 block of E. 24th Street when the attempted robbery took place around 12:28 a.m. Tuesday. James told deputies he and Joseph were sitting in his car when two armed men approached and yelled “give it up!”

Tregre said James slammed on the car’s accelerator, but as the car sped off, the alleged robbers opened fire on James’ vehicle. Tregre said both sides of the car were peppered with bullet holes.

Tregre said deputies were responding to a call of shots fired in the area of East 26th Street in

Reserve when they received the call from James saying he and Joseph had been shot and were parked on Louisiana Highway 3179. Investigators found Joseph a short time later, unresponsive inside the vehicle.

Tregre said no arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to contact the St. John Sheriff’s Office at 985-652-6338. Joseph’s death was St. John’s ninth homicide of 2008.