By Stephen Hemelt
L’Observateur

ST. ROSE — Seven arrests and an eighth person dead through gun violence is the result of a drug deal that went horribly wrong, authorities said.

Capt. Patrick Yoes of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office said detectives are “actively” working the wide-ranging drugs case and additional arrests have not been ruled out.

“This was a drug deal,” Yoes said. “They tried to rip him off. It just goes to show you with drugs anything can happen. They came here to buy drugs.”

The victim, 21-year-old Richard A. Bailey of New Orleans, was found dead on Kennedy Street Monday morning in St. Rose.

Yoes said detectives believe Bailey was involved in the drug sale, but the exact role he played is still under investigation.

The killing is the first reported homicide in St. Charles Parish this year, but Yoes said drug activity and its negative consequences know no boundaries.

“When you have drug activity and it crosses jurisdictions, it is just the way it goes,” he said. “It is just the trend of crime. Crime doesn’t recognize boundaries.”

Authorities have not made public what type of illegal drugs were part of the ill-conceived drug robbery.

U.S. Marshals joined in the apprehension process as arrests took place over three days in different parishes.

The Sheriff’s Office announced three arrests Wednesday, which included a juvenile and another person charged with first-degree murder.

• Joseph John Fountain, 19, of 6001 Downman Road in New Orleans was arrested for first-degree murder.

Fountain was located at his residence Wednesday morning by the U.S. Marshals.

• Johan Michael Wetwiski, 19, of 4630 Gallatin Street in New Orleans was arrested for principal to first-degree murder.

Wetwiski turned himself in to the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center.

• A male juvenile, 16, of New Orleans is charged with principal to first-degree murder.

He was located Wednesday morning by the U.S. Marshals at his residence.

“We often use and receive assistance from the U.S. Marshals when we identify people outside of the region or outside of our area and we need assistance trying to track them down,” Yoes said. “They have a fugitive task force and they provide us assistance in trying to locate these people.”

The case began at approximately 5 a.m. Monday, when authorities responded to a shooting report on Kennedy Street. Deputies found Bailey dead on the scene, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds.

Yoes said evidence collected leads investigators to believe the shooting resulted from a drug deal gone wrong.

Initial arrests include:

• Anthony J. Rotondi, 21, of 631 Oliver St. in New Orleans was booked with principal to first-degree murder.

• Pedro Furlan Jr., 19, of 1061 Sandalwood Drive in Harvey and David Hunter Jr., 17, of 144 Kennedy St. in St. Rose were each charged with attempted distribution and possession with intent to distribute a schedule I controlled substance.

• Courtney Ward, 18, of 3404 Lemon St. in Metairie was arrested and booked with attempted distribution of a schedule I controlled substance.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 985-783-6807 or Crimestoppers at 1-877-903-STOP.

Callers do not have to give their name or testify and could receive a $2,500 reward.