(Update: Sheriff Mike Tregre announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspect or suspects responsible for the shooting death of Colay McCovery, 18, of Reserve.) 

RESERVE — A weekend homicide was no random act, and the gunman or gunmen, most likely, live near the Reserve ditch where the teenage victim was found, police said.

“The people that live in that area don’t want the person or persons responsible for this crime on the street, neither do I and neither does the Sheriff’s Office,” St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said Tuesday morning. “(The community) is helping us. We’re getting a lot of tips. We have to have that evidence, but we are very close.”

Sheriff Office investigators have been working the case since Colay McCovery, 18, of Reserve was found shot to death at approximately 11:50 a.m. Saturday.

A local resident working in his backyard Saturday morning first alerted authorities to the body lying in a field near East 27th and Farlough streets in Reserve.

Police believe McCovery was shot Friday night and possibly ran to where he was found before collapsing.

Tregre said deputies were alerted to a shots-fired call between 8 and 9 p.m. Friday, adding deputies “did not find anything or anybody” when responding that evening.

According to Tregre, McCovery’s death is not related to the unsolved killing of Tameka Robinson, who was found shot to death in the street Jan. 15 at the corner of Louisiana 628 and Cardinal Street in LaPlace.

“We’ve received very good community support and tips, but we need just a little bit more information to proceed with an arrest,” Tregre said. “This was not a random act. I believe the person or persons responsible for this crime live in close proximity to where we found the victim.”

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

Crimestoppers callers do not have to testify and may qualify for a cash reward.

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