UPDATE: Violent Night in Shreveport – 12 Wounded, 1 Dead
UPDATE: Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, Police Chief Wayne Smith and others addressed the crime in our community over the past few days. One of the victims in the downtown mass shooting that happened early Saturday morning has died.
Chief Smith says:
"I have reached out to all agencies who have arresting authority and asked them to come on board and help us to bring this violence back under control."
The Chief added: "I plead to our community. I beg of you lay down your weapons. Try to resolve your conflicts with something other than violence." The chief also had a message to the criminals:
"To those planning on committing these offenses we are going to take every possible to bring you to justice."
Mayor Arceneaux says “This is a united effort and we all have to work together to bring this violence to an end. Whatever you see, please let us know about it. There are a handful of people who are managing to control, to some extent, the law abiding people in our city."
Liz Swaine with the Downtown Development Authority says
Our thoughts, hearts and prayers go out to the families impacted. But we can not let people who do this win. The way they win is when we are quiet. If we stop living our lives and going to events, they win. If we stop living our dreams, they win. We are not going to let them win. But we need your help to do that.
ORIGINAL STORY
Shreveport police are investigating mass shootings in two different parts of the city. The first shooting happened just before 11pm on Logan Street in the Lakeside Neighborhood.
Officers tell KEEL News 7 people were shot in this area when several people jumped out a car and opened fire with a rifle and a shotgun. Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital by private car while Shreveport EMS crews transported the other five victims to the hospital. At least one of the victims is suffering from life threatening wounds.
A few hours later, police were called to another mass shooting in downtown Shreveport. This incident happened at about 1:45 Saturday morning in the 200 block of Texas Street. Police say multiple suspects jumped out of a car and opened fire on pedestrians. Six people were wounded. Two of the victims have life threatening wound.
Police did get information about a possible suspect vehicle and there was a brief chase in north Shreveport where the car was finally stopped.
One person was taken into custody. We don't know yet if this person has been charged in connection to the downtown shooting.
Detectives are not saying yet if these two mass shootings are related or not. But as you can see, the two crime scenes are about 5 minutes apart.
Mass Shootings in Louisiana in 2023
Caddo Parish Violent Offenders for March 2023 (Mugshots)