By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies are investigating a pair of shootings, one on each side of the river, that occurred over the weekend, according to a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

Capt. Dane Clement, Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said the shootings, which happened early Friday morning in Wallace and Sunday evening in LaPlace, are separate incidents and do not appear to be related.

The first occurred around 12:40 a.m. Friday in the 5800 block of Louisiana Highway 18 in Wallace. Clement said a 23-year-old Vacherie man was found lying on the side of the road with a gunshot wound to the buttocks.

The man told deputies that he was walking along the street when he was shot from behind. He said he heard several shots, but did not know who fired the gun or where it was fired.

Clement said the man was transported to St. James Hospital and later transferred to University Hospital in New Orleans where he underwent surgery. Clement said his condition was improving but did not know if he had left the hospital.

The second shooting happened around 10:24 p.m. Sunday on Greenwood Drive in LaPlace. Clement said deputies called to the area found a 17-year-old LaPlace man with a gunshot wound to his leg.

The 17-year-old told deputies he and two others were walking on LaSalle Drive near the intersection of Greenwood Drive when they heard a gunshot. As the men ran from the intersection the victim realized he was shot. 

Clement said the group told deputies the shot came from a dark colored car. They did not know who or how many subjects occupied the car. He said the victim was transported to University Hospital in New Orleans for treatment.

Anyone with information regarding either incident should call St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives at 985-359-8769 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.