Shootout erupts over stolen puppies in Louisiana, police say. Four face charges
Four people are facing charges after a shootout erupted over stolen puppies in Louisiana last week, officials said.
Chandon Hickerson, the owner of the puppies, told detectives that he discovered they were stolen on the night of Oct. 19, according to a press release from the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office. He also told them he heard that someone in a blue sedan had been seen putting a puppy in a trash can in Vacherie.
Hickerson, 23, told detectives that he and two others took his truck to go look for the people in the blue sedan on Oct. 20, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Upon coming into contact with them, a shootout between the occupants of both vehicles ensued,” the sheriff’s office said on Oct. 22.
The sheriff’s office said “multiple rounds were fired” and that two people — 20-year-old Shawnchez Lemar, who was an occupant of the blue sedan, and an occupant of Hickerson’s truck were injured. They were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and were been released.
Several bullets also hit an occupied home and vehicle nearby, the sheriff’s office said.
Hickerson and one of the occupants in his truck, 21-year-old Keithon Burham Jr., were arrested and charged with two counts of attempted manslaughter and one count of “aggravated criminal damage to property,” the sheriff’s office said. They were both given a $375,000 bond.
Lemar and the other person in the blue sedan, 19-year-old Caivon Vedol, were arrested and charged with three counts of attempted manslaughter. Lemar was given a $300,000 bond and Vedol was given a $450,000 bond.
“The sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation regarding this incident,” the release said. “Anyone having additional information should contact the sheriff’s office at 225-562-2200. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to CrimeStoppers by calling 504-822-1111.”
No other information about the incident was released as of Thursday afternoon.
St. James Parish is in southern Louisiana, about 54 miles west of New Orleans.
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Shootout erupts over stolen puppies in Louisiana, police say. Four face charges."
