By Kimberly Hopson

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Residents in the area of the shooting incident in Reserve that resulted in St. John the Baptist Parish’s ninth murder of the year said that they don’t want fingers pointed at them just because the episode happened in their neighborhood.

St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the report of another shooting death last week in the 300 block of East 13th Street in Reserve. A caller reported to 911 operators that a subject was shot and that the friends of the victim were transporting him to River Parishes Hospital. The victim, 29-year-old Donovan Bailey, sustained a single gunshot wound to the upper torso and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. No one else was injured. Bailey’s death makes the ninth homicide by gunshot of the year in St. John Parish.

“I feel strongly that they shouldn’t have come back here starting violence. It’s mostly people that don’t actually live back here that are always causing confusion,” said Shannon Robertson. Robertson said that she was in her home when the incident took place but doesn’t know any specific details about what happened. She said that her neighborhood is normally peaceful despite this incident.

Two friends of Bailey told investigators they had just dropped off some friends at the rear of East 13th Street, and their van was fired upon while they were leaving the area. Bailey had been driving the van. One of the friends took control of the vehicle and drove to the hospital.

After the homicide St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said there is a limited amount of information that he is able to release regarding the shooting, but his staff is still actively investigating the case.

Detectives are still encouraging anyone with information regarding this incident to call St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives at 985-359-TIPS.

Tippers will not be required to testify in court and will be issued a tip number to be identified for the potential award.