By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — A local man was found dead in a ditch Monday morning, but detectives aren’t positive the location he was found is where he died.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said the killing was drug-related, and the victim was targeted.

Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the intersection of Main Street and Farm Road in LaPlace at 8:29 a.m. Monday after receiving a report of a subject in a ditch.

“When deputies arrived on the scene, they found an unresponsive male subject with a gunshot wound in the head, and he was pronounced dead at the scene,” authorities said in a release. “The victim was identified as Kentrell Dyion Bailey, 30, of LaPlace.”

Tregre said the shooting was not a random act of violence, adding the victim was in possession of narcotics and cash. According to Tregre, Bailey may have been killed elsewhere and pushed out of a vehicle.

Bailey was arrested in August 2011 in connection with the June 2011 murder of Frank Lewis and was later charged with second-degree murder. Tregre said Bailey was recently released from jail.

Lt. Greg Baker said investigators are working to determine whether Bailey’s murder was in retaliation to that case. “We’re not going to rule it out,” Baker said.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS, Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or submit a crime tip at stjohnsheriff.com/submitatip.php. Tipsters can choose to remain anonymous.

Residents who call Crimestoppers do not have to testify in court and may qualify for a cash reward.