Houma man charged in shootings, arson

Joshua Dean, 21, 228 Gouaux Ave., Houma, was arrested Thursday after allegedly shooting two men and setting fire to several residences on Gouaux Avenue over the past year, Houma Police said.

Police said a 25-year-old male had been shot once in the left shoulder on New Orleans Boulevard around 2 a.m. Thursday.

The victim was walking on the road when an unknown vehicle occupied by two men pulled up and fired two shots, striking the victim once in the shoulder.

The victim refused medical treatment and his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, said Acting Police Chief Todd Duplantis of the Houma Police Department.

At approximately 3:42 a.m. on the same day, police were called to the intersection of Williams and Legion Avenue to investigate another shooting.

A 56-year-old male was lying on his side with a gunshot wound, Duplantis said.

The victim was riding his bicycle on Legion Avenue when a black vehicle, occupied by a white female and a black male, pulled up next to him. The man shot the victim and fled.

Acadian Ambulance arrived at the scene and transported the victim to Terrebonne General Medical Center where he was taken into surgery.

Upon further investigation, the detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for Dean’s residence, Duplantis said. They recovered a 9mm handgun that the detectives believe was used in the shootings.

Detectives also learned that Dean allegedly started several house fires in his Gouaux Avenue neighborhood, Duplantis said.

Dean was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of simple arson.