By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish are investigating the parish’s sixth homicide of the year after a LaPlace man was shot and killed in Garyville Sunday morning.

The Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a shooting from Saturday morning in which another man was shot in the neck. Detectives are looking into the possibility that the two incidents could be related.

In the homicide, authorities say Garland Randall, 36, was shot in the chest while sitting in a vehicle stopped at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 44 and Earl Baloney Street around 9:50 a.m. Sunday, said Capt. Dane Clement, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. Clement said a man approached the vehicle on foot and fired.

A friend drove Randall to River Parishes Hospital in LaPlace for treatment. He was later transferred to University Hospital in New Orleans, where he was pronounced dead.

Randall’s killing occurred a little more than 24 hours after a 26-year-old LaPlace man was shot following a fight reported in the 400 block of Orange Loop. Deputies were called to the scene around 9 a.m. Saturday following reports of gunfire, along with male subjects fighting in the street.

When deputies arrived on the scene, all parties involved were gone except for one male subject, who fled as deputies were showing up.

Minutes later, a victim with a gunshot wound to the neck arrived at River Parishes Hospital. Clement said the man was transferred to a New Orleans hospital, where he was treated and released Saturday evening.

While deputies were investigating the fight and the shooting, the subject who fled when deputies arrived, later identified as Cavin Randall, 22, of Orange Loop, returned to his home.

Clement said Randall told deputies that he shot the victim. Clement said Randall has been identified a nephew of Garland Randall.

Cavin Randall was booked with attempted second-degree murder and carrying a concealed weapon. He is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility on a $160,000 bond.

During the investigation into Saturday’s shooting, authorities also arrested Willis Anderson, 35, of LaPlace, who was charged with obstruction of justice. Willis is being held on a $7,500 bond.

Clement said detectives are not releasing the names of any suspects they may have in the homicide and added that additional information regarding both investigations will be made available when it is warranted. 

Detectives ask anyone with information regarding the incidents to contact St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives at 985-359-8769 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.