2 slain in Downtown Houma shootings

Downtown Houma saw two murders within a week’s time.

The first happened on Wednesday. Three Houma men were arrested as suspects in the robbery and murder of a Houma woman.

The second occurred Saturday. A Dulac man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder after gunning down two men from the passenger seat of a vehicle.

The three Houma men were arrested as suspects in the robbery and murder of Ernestine Johnson, 40, whose body was discovered lying in the middle of Gouaux Avenue early Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Brandon Frank, 19, 1901 E. Tunnel Blvd., Apt. 1; Sylvester White III, 24, 118 Henderson St., and Rayfield Conrad “Corey” Wells, 25, 2617 St. Joseph St., turned themselves in at the Houma Police Department station after warrants were issued for their arrests on first-degree murder charges.

Frank and White contacted Houma Police detectives before showing up at the station. All three are currently incarcerated at the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Wells turned himself in to police around 2 p.m. on Friday. Frank and White turned themselves in before 10 p.m. Thursday.

“Word gets out that they’re wanted,” said Houma Police Department spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis.

Johnson was walking along Gouaux Avenue in Houma when the three suspects robbed and murdered her, Duplantis said.

He said that detectives conducted the investigation. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives, and the Office’s Narcotics Task Force, assisted Houma Police with apprehending the suspects, Duplantis said.

“The Narcotics Task Force and the Houma Police Department work together on something serious,” he said.

All three suspects in the Johnson slaying are being held on $750,000 bonds each.

The Houma man charged in Saturday’s shooting, Clyde M. Trosclair, 19, of 6624 Shrimper’s Row in Dulac, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder after allegedly gunning down Johnny Honeycutt, 24, and Samuel Pugh Sr., 40. Both men were from Houma.

The Houma Police responded to a call outside the Post Office Club on Main Street at 1:15 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Honeycutt lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the torso. They also found Pugh, who sustained a gunshot wound to the hip.

Honeycutt died at the scene. Pugh was taking to Terrebonne General Medical Center for treatment, authorities said.

Through their investigation and questioning witnesses, the officers were able to identify the suspect as Trosclair.

Detectives learned Trosclair shot Honeycutt and Pugh while riding in the passenger seat of a truck with three other occupants: the driver, a male and two other female passengers.

Trosclair was allegedly involved in a dispute earlier in the night with Honeycutt at a lounge on Main Street, police said.

Honeycutt and Pugh encountered Trosclair near the corner of Main and Goode streets. Witnesses reported words were exchanged.

Honeycutt then approached the driver’s side of the truck and began to punch the driver, according to police.

This is when Trosclair allegedly shot twice outside the driver’s side window, killing Honeycutt and wounding Pugh.

Detectives were able to locate Trosclair’s cell-phone number and convince him to turn himself in around 9:30 a.m. the morning of the shooting.

The Houma Police Department reported the investigation is still ongoing and more arrests may follow.