RESERVE — Detectives with the St. John Sheriff’s Office are investigating a shooting that occurred early this morning in Reserve, leaving one man in critical condition.

At about 1 a.m. Monday, deputies responded to a residence in the 100 block of East 21st Street in Reserve for the report of a man that was shot. Upon arrival, deputies located 57-year-old Aurelius Burfict, with gunshot wounds to his body. Burfict, who is autistic, told officers he was walking along the street when a vehicle drove up from behind him, and a male subject shot him.

According to Burfict, the vehicle then fled the area to Highway 44. The victim was able to make his way to a nearby residence to seek help. Emergency medical services arrived on scene and transported Burfict to a New Orleans hospital where he remained in critical condition as of Monday afternoon.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or the Criminal Investigations Division at 985-359-8774. Citizens can also submit tips on the Sheriff’s Office website at http://stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php