LAPLACE — A 37-year-old local man is behind bars, accused of choking his girlfriend in the presence of her children and firing gunshots in their vicinity.

Rondel Brown of LaPlace was arrested in the early morning hours Tuesday, charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault with a firearm, felony aggravated criminal damage to property and felony carrying of a concealed weapon by a convicted felon.

As of press time Friday, Brown was being held in custody in lieu of a $90,000 bond. Authorities reported the suspect has a 2001 armed robbery conviction.

According to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, Brown’s arrest stemmed from a Monday night altercation in the 2200 block of Cartier Drive in LaPlace.

Deputies said a 36-year-old victim reported she and her boyfriend, identified as Brown, had a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation at her home.

“As Brown was choking her in the presence of her two children, ages 10 and 13, the victim told officers she was able to get away from his grasp,” a Sheriff’s Office release said. “As she was attempting to escape the residence, Brown picked up a handgun on a table in the living room, pointed it at her and fired the gun in another direction at a glass door, shattering the glass inside the residence.”

Police, who said the children are not Brown’s, added gunfire continued in an unknown direction as the mother and children were entering a vehicle to leave the area.

According to authorities, Brown returned to the victim’s residence at approximately 11 p.m. Monday and was arrested.