Deputies working 'nonstop' on violent Bayou Vista crimes

In the wake of the shooting and a carjacking that occurred within the past week in Bayou Vista, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives have been working “pretty much nonstop” trying to identify suspects in both cases, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Traci Landry said.
As of this morning, detectives were investigating leads in both cases and looking at case evidence, Landry said. The possible identifies of suspects have not been released in either case.
At this point in the investigations into the crimes, detectives “have absolutely no reason to believe” that the two crimes are connected, Landry said.
At 10:45 p.m. Saturday, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of an armed robbery that occurred in the 100 block of Mercury Road in Bayou Vista. Two suspects approached a female victim who was inside her car parked outside a residence, according to a news release.
One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the victim. The victim exited the vehicle, ran into the residence, and called 911. The two suspects drove away in the vehicle, but the victim was not injured. Deputies issued a be-on-the-lookout for the vehicle. Video of the suspects was recovered from a nearby business.
On Sunday, just prior to 9:30 p.m., a deputy observed a car matching the description of the stolen vehicle traveling on Main Street in Franklin and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle pulled into a driveway on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Three suspects, including the driver, exited the car and fled on foot. The stolen vehicle was recovered and evidence was collected.
In a separate incident, at 11:18 a.m. Wednesday, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a shooting at a home in the 400 block of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista. Deputies arrived at the location and made contact with a 47-year-old woman, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body, according to a news release.
Acadian Ambulance personnel rendered medical attention and the victim was transported to Teche Regional Medical Center. A be-on-the-lookout bulletin was issued for the suspect and deputies immediately searched the area. Bayou Vista Elementary was placed on lock down, and deputies were stationed at the school.
During the investigation, detectives learned that the victim heard a noise and exited into the back yard of the home.
The suspect, who was near a fence at the back of the property, saw the victim. The suspect then confronted the victim and produced a handgun.
After a brief argument, the suspect fired the weapon multiple times and fled the area. The suspect is described as a heavy set, olive-complected white or Hispanic male with short blond hair. The suspect was last seen wearing a striped shirt and khaki pants.
St. Mary Parish Councilman Glen Hidalgo, who represents and lives in Bayou Vista, said, “I’m confident that the sheriff is doing a more than adequate job in Bayou Vista.”
The Sheriff’s Office maintains a strong presence of patrol cars and detectives in Bayou Vista and has done so the entire seven and a half years Hidalgo has been on the council, he said.
“They are watching Bayou Vista closely, and the news reports and the police reports show it, all the busts … that they make,” Hidalgo said.
Hidalgo has been in contact with Sheriff Mark Hebert and said Hebert is open to having a “town hall type meeting” to discuss people’s concerns.
“It takes time” to catch the suspects and “get the whole story,” Hidalgo said.
Community members “have been incredibly helpful” to detectives in the investigations, Landry said.
“Our detectives, of course, have been in the area a little more than usual just following up on the case. So we have had a little more of a presence in that area,” Landry said.
Landry encouraged anyone with any information on the shooting or carjacking to call the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-384-1622 or 337-828-1960. Callers can remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted by emailing crimewatch@stmaryso.com or through the “Contact Us” link at the top of the page on stmaryso.com. Users don’t have to enter a return email address in the “Contact Us” email form, Landry said.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com