Update: Party bus shot up in Reserve after pot smell

Published 4:08 pm Monday, March 16, 2015

By Gladys Davis Mulkey
L’Observateur

RESERVE — A New Orleans-based party bus was struck multiple times by gunfire last weekend in Reserve after dropping off passengers from a night out, authorities said.

Sgt. Dane Clement of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office said the bus was struck multiple times by gunfire, adding police are not releasing the exact number of shots fired.

The case began after Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to East 13th Street in Reserve at 12:02 a.m. Sunday.

Responding deputies spoke with a party bus driver, who said his bus was struck by gunfire, Sheriff Mike Tregre said in a release Monday.

Only the driver was in the bus at the time of the gunfire, and no one was injured.

The driver told deputies he was hired to drive a group of people from Reserve to New Orleans and back while they partied on the bus.

According to Clement, authorities do not know the age range of the bus occupants.

Tregre said when in New Orleans, the driver smelled the strong odor of marijuana and warned the passengers if he smelled it again, he would end the bus ride early and return to Reserve.

“After smelling marijuana a second time, he returned to the 200 block of East 13th Street, ending the trip,” Tregre said. “All the passengers complied and exited the bus; however, one passenger requested a refund because the bus trip ended early. The driver denied the request.”

As the bus was leaving, the driver heard several gunshots, according to Tregre, and could hear his bus was being hit by gunfire. He did not see who was shooting.

Clement said authorities have not identified a suspect in the shooting, adding the bus service and driver are both from New Orleans.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Those who call Crimestoppers do not have to testify and may qualify for a cash reward. Tips can be submitted at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.