Flurry of shots fired incidents keeps HPD hopping

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Houma police chased five calls within as many hours of shots being fired in several different neighborhoods Monday night, raising concerns among officials about street violence and resulting in a promise of beefed-up patrols.

No injuries were reported but there was damage to a house hit by a bullet, Chief Dana Coleman said.

“It is somewhat unusual for that amount of calls in a short time frame, especially if you look how it was from one side of town to the other,” Coleman said. “While officers are responding to one on the east side here is one minutes later on the west side, then another on the east side.”


The first call came in at 7:16 p.m. from the vicinity of Madge and West streets, where three or four shots were reported. Officers were not able to find any sign of trouble. Then at 8:24 p.m. calls came from the 400 block of Maple Street.

“When officers arrived, some subjects were observed running from the area,” Coleman said. “Officers attempted to apprehend these subjects, but were unsuccessful. Descriptions were relayed that the suspects involved were wearing dark colored hooded sweaters or jackets.”

At 9:37 p.m. five gunshots were reported near East and Main streets.


At 10:04 p.m. officers swarmed the 200 block of Pear Street after a report of shots fired.

At 11:40 p.m. at East and Bryant streets shots were reported.

Coleman said detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from security cameras in the neighborhoods.


The question of whether some or all of the incidents are related has not yet been answered, although Coleman said that possibility is being investigated.

Of particular concern to officials is the risk that could be posed from gunplay regarding Mardi Gras crowds.

“With Mardi Gras being right around the corner we are looking into taking care of this,” Coleman said.


 

HPDCASEY GISCLAIR | TRI-PARISH TIMES