By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A candlelight vigil will be held Monday evening to protest the recent violence in the River Parishes.
Edgard resident Ronnie Feist will be organizing the event. The vigil will take place at New Jerusalem Baptist Church at
152 E. Sixth St. in Edgard from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“It’s for the whole west bank, but we’re doing it on that street because a lot of activity is going on in that area, and we’re trying to get our community back the way it used to be,” said Fiest.
The first shooting occurred Saturday, April 6, shortly after the local election polls closed. The victim, identified as 22-year-old Jamond James of Homewood Place in Reserve, died at the scene. The second
murder occurred the following morning, on the 100 block of Sixth Street in Edgard. Ralph Thomas, 23, was the victim of the second shooting.
The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Department announced Thursday afternoon that the suspects from both shootings, Lorenzo Porter and Demond Baker, had been successfully captured by officials.
Feist said St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre and Parish President Natalie Robottom will be in attendance at the event along with several local pastors. The elected officials will address the families of the victims and the community at large to answer questions and provide encouragement.
“We don’t want to wait until another one happens for us to get it done. We’re trying to take back our streets and let the people know that we’re not going to stand for all of that foolishness out there,” said Feist.