LaPlace man arrested for attempted murder
Published 12:11 am Wednesday, March 2, 2016
- St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said the victim, described as a Reserve resident, was not struck during the shooting.
Local man narrowly avoids falling victim to drive-by shooting
RESERVE — A local man narrowly avoided serious injury last week when a suspected drive-by shooter peppered gunshots at him, authorities said.
Wendell James
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said the victim, described as a Reserve resident, was not struck during the shooting, and authorities made an attempted murder arrest two days later.
Deputies began their investigation after responding to the 1500 block of Belle Pointe Drive in Reserve at 3:33 p.m. Feb. 23.
Tregre said a 35-year-old male told investigators he was walking along the street when he first heard, then saw a car driving toward him.
“He saw Wendell James, 31, driving the car,” Tregre said. “James pointed a handgun at him and shot at him several times before driving away. No one was injured.”
Tregre said James of LaPlace turned himself into detectives at the Criminal Investigations Division.
Sgt. Dane Clement said James is being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond and is booked with attempted second-degree murder.
“Several shots were fired from a handgun,” Clement said.
“The victim wasn’t injured, and there wasn’t any report of property damage.”
There were no other passengers in the shooter’s car, Clement said, adding authorities are not releasing how many shots were fired, what type of weapon was used or any motive that investigators have discovered.
As of press time, Clement said there is nothing to indicate the shooting was gang- or drug-related.
