By ROBIN SHANNON
Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John announced Friday that they have issued a warrant for a second suspect involved in a botched robbery last month that ended with the shooting death of a Reserve woman.

Maj. Mike Tregre, public information officer for the St. John Sheriff’s Office, said Terrel Hutchinson, 29, of 413 Sugar Pine St., LaPlace, is wanted on first-degree murder and attempted first degree murder charges in connection with a Dec. 30 shooting in the 200 block of East 24th Street. Tregre said Hutchinson was identified out of a photographic lineup.

Investigators say Hutchinson is one of two men who allegedly shot and killed Nekesha Nichelle Joseph during an attempted armed robbery. According to police reports, Joseph and 36-year-old Ron James of Garyville were sitting in a grey Buick sedan along East 24th Street in Reserve when two men walked up and tried to rob them. James attempted to speed away from the attackers, but the two men opened fire on the vehicle killing Joseph and wounding James.

Authorities said James parked his vehicle along State Highway 3179 and called police. He was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital.

Deputies are also still on the lookout for the other suspect in the shooting, 22-year-old Calvin Mitchell of Maurepas. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of either of the men is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 985-652-6338.