Reserve man arrested after 2 killed in LaPlace shooting
Published 4:58 pm Thursday, October 8, 2015
KENNER — A Reserve man is facing two murder charges and one attempted murder charge following a deadly shooting spree Monday in LaPlace.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives, U.S. Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security and Kenner Police Department personnel arrested Derrence Greenup Thursday without incident near the airport in Kenner.
St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre said detectives identified Greenup, 28, of Reserve this week as a suspect in the triple shooting.
Tregre said deputies will transfer Greenup to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Sherman Walker Correctional Center and book him with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
“The investigation is ongoing,” he said.
LaPlace cousins were killed early Monday when they and a third person were shot while exiting a vehicle in the 400 block of State Street in LaPlace.
Travis Gregoire, 23, of LaPlace and Sierra Gregoire, 18, of LaPlace died Monday after a barrage of gunfire erupted at approximately 1:50 a.m. Monday.
Tregre said a third victim, a 23-year-old man, was in stable condition at University Medical Center in New Orleans.
“We have reason to believe that the victims had just arrived in a vehicle of their own and were exiting the vehicle, and that’s when this white pick up truck drove up and opened fire,” Tregre said.
Deputies responded at 1:52 a.m. Monday to the 400 block of State Street following the shooting report.
Tregre said a white truck believed to be involved in the shooting was discovered Tuesday morning after it was set on fire in Reserve.
Authorities said it is unknown how many occupants were in the truck.
Tregre previously said he didn’t want to release information on how many gunshots were fired and what types of weapons may have been involved because he didn’t want to jeopardize the investigation.
During a press conference Monday afternoon in front of the Sheriff’s Office headquarters in LaPlace, Tregre said detectives were making progress in their investigation.
“This was a very brutal and vicious attack,” he said.
Tregre’s office previously announced victim Sierra Gregoire was issued a misdemeanor summonses for simple battery Aug. 31 for her involvement in a highly publicized assault that took place at an Airline Highway fast food restaurant in LaPlace.
Tregre said detectives are looking into the possibility the cases are related, but added “there are no ties to that incident at this time.” The sheriff also said “no direct link” has been established between Monday’s violence and the parish’s first homicide, which took place Sept. 16 in Garyville.
The deaths of Travis Gregoire and Sierra Gregoire represent the parish’s second and third killings of 2015.
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 that call Crimestoppers do not have to testify and may qualify for a cash reward.
Residents can also submit tips at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.