By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Just one week after forming a task force to investigate a trio of unsolved murders in Reserve, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Wayne Jones said Tuesday his office has arrested one man in connection with the first of the three killings.

Steven James Ellis Jr., 23, of 1507 Grant St., LaPlace, was arrested Monday evening after a raid on his home around 8:25 p.m. Investigators believe that Ellis is responsible for the murder of Jamar Vinnette, who was gunned down May 6 on East 13th Street in Reserve.

The raid involved members of the task force as well as deputies from the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Response Team. No one was injured in the raid, according to authorities.

Jones said a search of Ellis’ home uncovered drugs and five handguns, three of which were previously reported stolen in St. John Parish. He also said a vehicle believed to have been used by suspects to flee the scene of the murder was recovered last night in St. James Parish. All evidence has been turned over to the State Police Crime Lab to be processed.

Jones said investigators believe the motive behind the killing was drug related and mentioned the possibility of a “rip off” or drug deal gone bad. He said investigators looked into the possibility of a pre-meditated hit on Vinnette, but evidence was inconclusive. He said it was not clear whether Vinnette knew Ellis prior to the murder.

“It’s a small area, and everyone knows everybody else in that 10- to 12-block radius of where the incidents took place,” Jones said. “The case is still in its early stages right now.”

Jones said the work of the task force has been pivotal in the investigation leading to Ellis’ arrest and added the team was able to process more information in a much quicker fashion.

“When you have 11 guys working a case like this you are able to go through several witnesses and interview more people,” Jones said. “Their work was very extensive and very thorough. They have followed more than 50 leads and have interviewed more than 25 people since the investigation began.”

Jones said the task force is working with authorities in Mississippi regarding the possibility of more arrests tied to the killings.

He would not say how or if the investigation in Mississippi was related to Vinnette’s murder.

Investigators believe Vinnette’s murder is connected with the May 8 murder of Eliza Fleming, who was shot and killed inside his home on East 23rd Street. Jones said authorities are still trying to determine if the June 17 murder of Frank Lewis is also related.

Also in attendance at the press conference were various family members of Vinnette, who expressed grief about the loss, but also questioned some elements of the investigation.

Vinnette’s mother Annette Vinnette said she believed it had nothing to do with a drug deal gone bad. She said her son was not involved in drugs and did not know Ellis prior to the murder.

“I think more has to be done about this because other people are getting killed out there,” Vinnette said. “The arrest brings closure to us because we know who the killer is, but it doesn’t bring him back.”