By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE –St. John Parish authorities are investigating a shooting in LaPlace Tuesday that sent one teenager to the hospital with injuries, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said 911 dispatchers received a call about 6:50 p.m. Tuesday regarding multiple gunshots in the area of the 1600 block of Yorktown Drive in LaPlace.

Following the initial call, deputies learned minutes later that a 17-year-old male involved in the shooting was driven by his mother to River Parishes Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg.

According to a report from the Sheriff’s Office, witnesses to the incident said a verbal and physical altercation occurred between the victim and four other male suspects, who were each armed with a handgun. At some point during the altercation, the victim was shot once in the leg.

Clement said the victim’s injury was not life threatening, but he was transferred Tuesday evening to University Hospital in New Oleans. Status of the victim’s condition was not known as of press time.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have information regarding the shooting should call St. John Sheriff’s detectives at 985-652-6338.