2nd suspect arrested following fatal shooting in Reserve

Published 4:11 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2015

RESERVE — Few details are being released following a deadly shooting among “acquaintances” Saturday afternoon that left one Reserve man dead, another in the hospital and two additional men facing attempted murder charges.

Bryant Hayes Jr.

Bryant Hayes Jr.

St. John the Baptist Parish deputies announced early Tuesday evening that Bryant Hayes Jr., 28, turned himself in to deputies at the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Sherman Walker Correctional Center.

Deputies booked Hayes with attempted first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.

Hayes was named as a suspect Monday, the same day authorities announced the arrest of Juan Alexander, 38, of LaPlace.

Juan Alexander

Juan Alexander

Deputies arrested Alexander on Chad B. Baker Street in Reserve. He was booked with attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal use of a weapon.

As of Tuesday morning, Alexander was still in jail, and no bond had been set in his case.

Sgt. Dane Clement said detectives identified the suspects through the course of the investigation.

“We aren’t releasing what role they played, because this is still an ongoing investigation,” he said, adding the suspects and two victims were all acquaintances. “This investigation is still ongoing. We won’t discuss any aspects of the investigation at this time. As the investigation continues, additional charges will be forthcoming.”

The suspects’ arrests follow the shooting of two men Saturday. One of the two men shot Saturday in Reserve died Sunday.

Tregre identified the victim as Demario Gray, 29, of Reserve. Tregre said Gray succumbed to his injuries Sunday, adding the condition of the second wounded man is unknown.

Detectives identified the second victim as a 30-year-old Reserve man. His name has not been released.

According to Clement, there has not been anything to identify the victims as suspects in the shooting. Clement said authorities are not searching for other suspects at this time.

Gray’s death marks the sixth homicide in St. John the Baptist Parish this year.

St. John deputies responded to the 1100 block of Louisiana 44 in Reserve at 12:15 p.m. Saturday following a report of gunshots in the area. Deputies located a man with a gunshot wound at the scene, Tregre said.

A second man with a gunshot wound arrived in a private vehicle at Ochsner Medical Complex-River Parishes emergency room in LaPlace.

Both shooting victims were taken to a New Orleans-area hospital for treatment, authorities said.

Anyone with information regarding the shootings is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Residents who call Crimestoppers do not have to testify and may qualify for a cash reward.

Tips can be submitted at http://stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.