Hobby Lobby ruling falls short
July 9, 2014CRIME BLOTTER: Reported offenses in the Tri-parish area
July 9, 2014
Terrebonne Parish officials say they are closely examining statements of witnesses and evidence in connection with a weekend shooting that claimed the life of a 29-year-old man from Gray who worked at a Houma shipyard.
Relatives of the shooter, 58-year-old Ray Carlos of Big Cypress Street, told authorities that Carlos told them by telephone that he was acting in self-defense.
Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said his officers arrested Carlos following the incident, which occurred around 3 a.m. Sunday.
“Officers had probable cause to make the arrest,” Duplantis said.
According to initial reports, Carlos was awakened by a loud noise – believed to have been caused by knocking or banging – and exited his home with a gun in his hand to investigate.
James Rube had been banging on the door of his former girlfriend’s home across the street, according to reports. When Carlos called out to him, according to authorities, Rube began walking toward him. Police said Monday they have no reason to believe the two men were acquainted.
Carlos fired a single shot at Rube, who was struck in the head and died. Carlos, Duplantis said, then called police and related his version of the events.
Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. said he plans to read reports associated with the case and to speak with detectives. As of Monday night, Carlos was being held at the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of $1 million bond on a charge of second-degree murder.
Rube’s Facebook page states that he was an employee at LaSHIP, an Edison Chouest shipyard in Houma. An ECO spokesman did not return a call for confirmation of Rube’s employment status.
Last month, Rube told friends that he planned to leave Louisiana and return to Iowa, where he had once lived, “as long as my parole officer will allow me.”
Police confirmed that Rube was charged in connection with a 2008 drive-by shooting, but authorities did not have immediate details. Attempts to reach Rube’s relatives and friends Monday were not successful.
Mary Carlos, the suspect’s sister-in-law, said in a telephone interview that he told relatives he was provoked.
“The guy got in his face,” Mary Carlos said. “Ray thought he had a weapon. Ray was in his yard, inside his fence, there is a chain that was locked and he was right up against the fence when he shot this guy. He shot the guy from about 3 feet away.”
Louisiana, like other states with so-called “stand your ground” laws does not require that someone retreat from potential deadly force before using deadly force.
“Ray told my husband that when the man came at him he reached for his pocket,” Mary Carlos said. “Ray thought he had a gun and he shot him.”
Ray Carlos of Houma is being held at the Terrebonne Parish jail on one count of second-degree murder after he allegedly fatally shot 29-year-old James Rube (pictured) of Gray early Sunday, authorities said.
