By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A 20-year-old LaPlace man was arrested on attempted first-degree murder charges Sunday after he shot and wounded another man, who was out at a local drive-through daiquiri shop with a former girlfriend, according to St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s officials.

Damien Howard of Persimmon Street was arrested late Sunday evening after he allegedly shot the 22-year-old victim three times outside the shop, located in the 1800 block of West Airline Highway, said Capt. Dane Clement, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. Howard was booked with attempted first-degree murder, carrying a concealed weapon, simple assault and making annoying phone calls. He also had a fugitive warrant from another agency.

Clement said deputies were called to the shop at 10:41 p.m. and found the victim with gunshot wounds to the knee, thigh and buttock. The victim was transported to a New Orleans hospital, where he was treated and released. Clement said no one else was injured.

Detectives said Howard had been continuously calling his former girlfriend’s cellphone, when the victim answered and told him to stop calling. Howard tracked down the couple at the daiquiri shop, approached their vehicle and fired a gun several times into the car. Clement said the victim got out of the vehicle and fought with Howard until sheriff’s deputies arrived. Howard was arrested at the scene.

Clement said Howard is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace. Bond has not been set.ꆱ