Shreveport, Louisiana

From the Shreveport Times of March 3, 2010

Home invasion: Suspect caught, dead youth ID’d

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a home invasion and the coroner has identiifed the 15-year-old who was killed while invading the home.

At about 10 p.m. today, Shreveport police arrested Jeremy Rachal, 18, of the 6200 block of South Crest Drive in Shreveport, on a charge of home invasion, according to Sgt. Bill Goodin, police spokesman.

Dr. Todd Thoma identified the 15-year-old as Gregory N. Graham.

Graham apparently participated in the home invasion at Billy Mayweather’s house in the 6000 block of Fox Chase Trail.

When the 62-year-old’s son, Brandon Mayweather, 31, came by the house shortly after 11 p.m. to check on him, Graham opened fire on Brandon Mayweather, according to police.

But Brandon Mayweather was also armed and returned fire, shooting the 15-year-old twice in the torso and once in an arm. Graham was pronounced dead at LSU Hospital in Shreveport.

Police say Brandon Mayweather, who was accompanied by his mother, was checking up on his father when he stumbled in upon the home invasion. Neither he or his mother live with Billy Mayweather.

By the time they’d arrived, Billy Mayweather had already been awoken by two males as they were restraining his hands and feet with duct tape.

Goodin called this method of restraining the home owner an anomaly — other than a home invasion in Benton during which three intruders used the same variety of extra-strength tape to immobilize the 68-year-old homeowner while they robbed her of her safe just after midnight Feb. 24.

Two guns suspected to be those used in the shoot-out between Brandon Mayweather and Graham were seized.

Anyone who has information should call Shreveport police Detective Lowell Bowen at (318) 673-7016 or Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.

New Orleans, Louisiana

From WRNO of February 6, 2010

Suspected Burglar Shot To Death At New Orleans Residence

Police say a suspected burglar was shot to death around 12am Saturday in the garage of a residence in the 600 block of Independence Street in New Orleans.

The shots were fired by a resident of the home.

Investigators say a burglar alarm was trigged and the alarm company notified those in the house that a motion sensor indicated activity in the garage located in the rear of the home.

One of the residents went to investigate and fired multiple shots after encountering the suspect.

No charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The NOPD says detectives will consult with the District Attorney to determine if any legal action is necessary.

Thanks to Jimmy for the tip!

Kenner, Louisiana

From WRNO of January 30, 2010

Kenner Business Owner Shoots and Kills Robber

Incident occurred Friday night outside check-cashing establishment on Williams Boulevard

The owner of a Kenner check-cashing store shot and killed an alleged robber Friday night outside of his establishment in the 3200 block of Williams Boulevard.

Investigators say the man was approached in a parking lot by three men as he left his business just before 9pm.

One member of the trio produced a gun and struck the man in the head and then grabbed a backpack the victim had in his possession. The intended victim retrieved the backpack, pulled a gun from it and shot two of the suspects.

One of the would-be robbers was pronouced dead on the scene and the other was taken to a hospital for treatment. The third man fled before police arrived.

Authorities say the two men who were shot carried identification cards from Honduras.

Thanks to James for the tip!

Shreveport, Louisiana

From the Shreveport Times of January 11, 2010

Intruder killed during home invasion

A 22-year-old was killed late Sunday after he and an accomplice broke into a house in the 5700 block of Sussex Street.

Police say Joseph Taylor and another man, both armed with handguns, entered the residence and threatened to kill an adult female and a juvenile who were inside the home at the time. The suspects began to ransack the house and fired shots in an attempt to intimidate the victims.

Willie Lee Baker told police he arrived home during the robbery and confronted the suspects. Taylor shot Baker, 29, in the leg as the two began to fight, police said. Baker managed to take the gun and shot Taylor once in the head.

Baker and Taylor were taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport were Taylor was pronounced dead, police said. Baker was treated and released.

Detectives are working to indentify [sic] the second suspect. Call police at (318) 673-6955 with information about this shooting.

Shreveport, Louisiana

From KSLA of December 29, 2009

Deadly home invasion suspect still at large

Shreveport police have impounded a car believed to belong to the surviving suspect in Tuesday’s deadly home invasion in Cedar Grove.

Acting on a tip, police found the an ’80s model blue Chevy Caprice in the 100 block of Greenbrook Boulevard Tuesday evening, just a few blocks away from the duplex in the 600 block of West 79th Street where 18 year old Jeremy Bell was shot to death in an altercation with Martin Gobert.

Shreveport police Gobert say was the victim in this case. Detectives believe Bell forced his way in Gobert’s front door after his cousin, Jerome Hughes knocked to draw him out. When Gobert came to the door, police say Bell forced his way in and began beating him with an assault rifle in an attempt to rob him. After a struggle, Gobert is believed to have wrestled the weapon away from Bell and turn it on his attacker. Hughes fled, and is still on the loose.

Detectives have recovered evidence from the crime scene including the rifle believed to have been used in the shooting, and have issued a warrant for Hughes’ arrest, charging him with one count of home invasion. The bond is set at $250,000.

Martin Gobert was beaten severely enough to require hospitalization, but he is expected to recover. Shreveport Police detectives have not charged him in connection with the fatal shooting. SPD Cpl. Bill Goodin says it is standard procedure in situations like these that the case is turned over to the Caddo District Attorney for review. The DA will determine whether Gobert acted in a manner reasonable for someone who believed their life or the life of another was in imminent and grave danger.

A third man was also on scene at the time of the incident. Police took that man into custody for questioning, but he has not been charged.

Anyone with any information regarding Jerome Hughes or his whereabouts is urged to call Shreveport Police Detective Shawn Hinderberger at 318-673-6955 or Shreveport-Caddo Parish Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Rapides Parish, Louisiana

From the Town Talk of December 26, 2009

One dead, one wounded in shooting at stand

One person was killed and another seriously wounded Friday night as a fireworks stand operator shot at three suspects who attempted to rob him and another person.

According to Capt. Matt Davis with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, two people – and man and a woman – were closing the Crooks’ Fireworks stand at the corner of South MacArthur and Jeff Davis drives around 6:20 p.m. when they were approached by three young adults. Davis said all three were armed with handguns.

One of the two operators opened fire with their own weapon. One suspect was killed at the scene, another was wounded and the third escaped. The wounded suspect was taken to a local hospital in serious condition, and the third suspect was captured a short time later, said Davis.

Davis said the injured suspect was in surgery, and his wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police still were on the scene late Saturday, and officials were not releasing any names yet. Officials also would not say late Saturday which stand operator had fired on the suspects.

Thanks to Jimmy for the tip!

St. Charles, Louisiana

From WWL of December 16, 2009

Shooting of St. Rose burglar ruled justifiable homicide

A St. Rose homeowner shot two men with a shotgun trying to burglarize his home, resulting in the death of one man and injuring the second, according to St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide and sent the information to the District Attorney’s Office.

Michael Cockerham, 21, of St. Rose, was pronounced dead on the scene by the coroner, police said, after he was shot by a homeowner in the 300 block of 1st Street around 1 a.m. Monday.

“Cockerham allegedly kicked down the victim’s rear door to his residence while armed with a semi automatic hand gun,” said spokesman Capt. Pat Yoes.

The homeowner reportedly saw a “laser light” from a weapon shine through the entrance; he then fired a single shot, hitting Cockerham, police said.

Cockerham was found in the yard of a nearby neighbor, police said. He had been shot once in the abdomen. The shooting is under investigation by the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office, and no charges have been filed against the homeowner, police said. Read the rest of this entry

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

From WWL of December 13, 2009

Police: Marrero man kills would-be robber

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office says an armed resident shot and killed one of three suspects who attempted to rob the man in front of his home.

According to spokesman Col. John Fortunato, the incident occurred at about 8:00pm as a Marrero couple was walking from their driveway.

Homicide detectives say three men tried to rob the couple, and the armed victim shot one of the suspects in the chest.

Police say the other two unidentified suspects fled on foot. The robber who was shot was later pronounced dead at University Hospital.

The identity of the dead suspect is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Anyone with information in this matter is asked to call the JPSO Homicide Division at 364-5300 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111.

Marrero, Louisiana

From WWLTV of December 12, 2009

Sheriff: Man shoots and kills would-be robber

A man walking from his driveway to his front door shot and killed another man who was attempting to rob him at gunpoint, according to Sheriff Newell Normand.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at #34 Azalea Lane in Marrero.

Normand said a couple was walking to their home when three men approached them and attempted to rob them. The man, who was also armed, shot the suspect, who was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

The other two suspects fled on foot.

The identity of the suspect who was shot is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Anyone with information in this matter is asked to call our Homicide Division at 364-5300 or Crimestoppers.

Shreveport, Louisiana

From KSLA of October 15, 2009

Suspect shot during break-in found at hospital

Caddo Parish Deputies say they’ve made an arrest related to an early Thursday morning home invasion.

Investigators say the break-in happened just after 3 am at a home in the 1100 block of Oak Grove Lane. According to deputies, the homeowner was awakened when he heard someone kicking in the front door of his house. The homeowner said he grabbed a handgun, and when the suspect came into the bedroom, the homeowner shot at the suspect several times. The suspect then ran from the house.

When deputies arrived at the home, a loaded AK-47 was found near the front door. About 30 minutes after the shooting, deputies learned that a man showed up at Willis-Knighton Pierremont with gunshot wounds to both legs.

Deputies identified the man as 30-year-old Dion Lewis.

Lewis was treated at Pierremont then later transferred to LSU Hospital. Detectives say Lewis will be taken to jail on a charge of aggravated burglary once he recovers from his wounds.

Two other people were in the house at the time of the attempted robbery – a woman and the homeowner’s 17-year-old son. No one inside the home was injured.

New Orleans, Louisiana

From August 31, 2009 WDSU channel 6:

Carlos Calderon, 39, and Luis Calderon, 26, were found dead around 11:15 p.m. Sunday in an apartment at 1132 Carondelet Street. Two other men, a 38-year-old and a 31-year-old, were found in the apartment with multiple stab wounds.

The Calderon brothers lived in the same building and had been involved in an argument with the two survivors earlier Sunday, police said. Later that night, the brothers — armed with knives — forced their way into the other men’s apartment, police said.

The roommates also armed themselves with knives and a handgun, and they managed to defend themselves by stabbing and shooting the men, police said.

Homicide detectives and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office met Monday and determined that the men’s actions were justified.

Shreveport, Louisiana

From the Shreveport Times of July 22, 2009

No charge against business owner who shot intruder

No charge is expected to be filed against the owner of Central Station who fired a shot at an intruder when the man lunged at him Tuesday afternoon.

“We’re not new to this,” Joseph Giglio, 68, of Shreveport, said of someone breaking into the defunct railroad terminal-turned-bar. The business in the 1000 block of Marshall Street has been burglarized 20 or 30 times, he said.

None of the previous burglaries ended in a shooting, Giglio said.

Jason Funderbunk, 35, hometown unavailable was rushed into emergency surgery at LSU Hospital in Shreveport in serious condition for treatment of a gunshot wound to his torso, according to a Shreveport Police Department news release.

Funderbunk was charged with one count of burglary and placed in police custody at the hospital Tuesday night. Hospital officials said they could release no information about his condition because of his status as a prisoner.

The security company that monitors Central Station detected an intruder in the unoccupied business shortly before 4:30 p.m. and alerted Giglio, who was at another of his operations, a plumbing outlet, according to police. Giglio armed himself and he and an unidentified bartender went to the bar, authorities said.

Giglio found someone hiding behind the counter and him to get on the ground while he called police, Giglio and authorities said.

Instead, the intruder leapt over the counter toward Giglio and tried to disarm the business owner. Giglio said he held the man away from the weapon with one arm and fired one shot.

“I tried to shoot him in the leg, but I don’t know where I got him,” Giglio said, explaining that police soon arrived and whisked him into a police cruiser.

The intruder “apparently entered the structure through a hole in the roof and was burglarizing the business there,” the police news release states.

Giglio alleged the intruder was attempting to access the cash register and safe, which are behind the counter.

The intruder did not brandish any type of weapon, Giglio said, but didn’t “leave me much choice.”

Port Allen, Louisiana

From July 17, 2009 WAFB channel 9:

PORT ALLEN, LA (WAFB) – A ten-year-old boy left home alone with his sister used his mother’s gun to shoot an intruder in the face, police said.

Late Tuesday, West Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies received a call to a Port Allen apartment complex after several shots rang out from inside one of the apartments. “You are out here trying to work and for someone to come and do that and invade your home is very hard,” the children’s mother said. She asked to not be identified.

Deputies say Dean Favron and Roderick Porter knocked several times on the apartment door. The two young children, a ten-year-old boy and eight-year-old girl, stood on the other side, terrified. “He told his sister to be quiet and seconds later, they started kicking on the door and finally kicked the door in,” said Sheriff Mike Cazes. The two children ran to their mother’s bedroom closet.

In a panic, the ten-year-old grabbed his mother’s gun for protection. “He did what I told him to do. I never told him to get the gun, but thank God he did,” she said. Once the two suspects opened the door, threatening the kids, deputies say the boy fired a bullet into the lip of Roderick Porter. The two men were taken to the hospital by a third suspect, who is a 15-year-old juvenile. Once they got to the hospital, they were later arrested. “It’s just hard. I don’t understand why they would do that. I know they have little brothers and sisters and they wouldn’t want anyone to break into their house,” said the mother.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

From WAFB of July 9, 2009

Attempted robbery leads to deadly shooting

Police say a deadly shooting on Alliquippa Street in Baton Rouge was apparently the result of an attempted robbery gone bad.

They say around 2:00 Wednesday morning two men rushed into a home attempting to rob the people inside.

Police say an 18-year-old inside the home grabbed his gun and started shooting, but so did a 38-year-old robber.

The robber died at the scene, while the 18-year-old remains hospitalized fighting for his life.

The second suspect ran off. If you can help police find him, call Crime Stoppers at 344-7867.

Shreveport, Louisiana

From the Shreveport Times of July 9, 2009

Business owner foils robbery try

A business owner who fought back foiled a robbery try early today and may have wounded one of the men who tried to rob him, Shreveport police say.

At around 12:15 a.m., Shreveport police patrol officers were sent to Mitchell?s Transmission in the 3100 block of Morningside Drive after getting reports of an attempted robbery there. Officers learned that three men wearing ski masks, one armed with a sawed-off shotgun, had tried to rob the owner as he closed the business. The business owner said he pulled out his handgun and fired two shots at the robbers, who ran off. The business owner was not injured.

About 10 minutes later, officers got a call from Willis-Knighton Medical center on Greenwood Road where a man had shown up at the emergency room with a gunshot wound. At the hospital, officers contacted one Derrick Glover, 20, who had a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Glover told officers he had been shot by an unknown man somewhere on Kent Street. Kent intersects with Morningside in the Caddo Heights neighborhood in central Shreveport.

Detectives are trying to determine whether the robbery try and the shooting are related. People with information on either incident should call Shreveport police detectives at (318) 673-6955 or CrimeStoppers at (318) 673-7373.