No one talking in Berwick shooting investigation

Police are having difficulty getting any information from witnesses of a June shooting that left four people with serious injuries, Berwick Police Chief James Richard said during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Authorities are still investigating a June 17 shooting where four people were each shot once outside of Prince Hall Lodge in the 3100 block of Sixth Street. All four victims have recovered well from their injuries, Richard said. No possible suspects have been identified.
About 10:45 p.m. June 17, Berwick police received a call from the area of Sixth and Utah streets by Prince Hall Lodge.
Police learned there was an altercation inside the lodge, and it continued outside the lodge, where the shooting occurred. Investigators don’t know what caused the altercation to occur.
At least 30 rounds were fired during the incident from what appears to have been some type of 9mm semi-automatic weapon, and multiple weapons may have been fired, Richard said.
Investigators have gone to talk to the victims in Thibodaux many times and have spoken with witnesses, but haven’t had any luck so far, Richard said.
Berwick police spoke with state police and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and “thought we may have some avenues open there,” Richard said.
Those “avenues” quickly closed after police received reports of some witnesses being harassed, Richard said.
Police sent evidence to the crime lab, but haven’t received the results back yet, the chief said.
Also during the meeting, the town’s engineering consultant, Reid Miller, said officials are waiting to get final approval on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for the town’s sewer improvement project.
The project entails expanding Berwick’s sewer system on La. 182 by Cameron Ironworks to allow for more industrial development and upgrading the system on Old Spanish Trail. Berwick has received $1.3 million in state funding for the project but are trying to get another $500,000 from the state to be able to start construction, Mayor Louis Ratcliff said.
Councilwoman Jacki Ackel announced that there will be a Cross-Generation Mixer at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Berwick Civic Complex. The mixer will kick off community meetings that aim to bring together the younger and older generations.
The community meetings were the idea of Berwick High School students at the Morgan City Rotary Club’s New Generations Conference.