One Louisiana Juvenile Arrested, Five Others Issued Summons After Altercation Involving a Firearm

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana – St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Pohlmann reported on February 16, 2023, that the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a male juvenile and issued summonses to five other juveniles following an altercation Wednesday afternoon in Meraux, Louisiana.

A 17-year-old Meraux male juvenile was charged with the illegal discharge of a weapon and aggravated criminal property damage.

The other five adolescents involved in the incident were issued summonses for simple battery including a 15-year-old female, a 16-year-old female, a 17-year-old female, a 16-year-old male, and a 17-year-old male.

Sheriff Pohlmann stated that on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, soon after 4 p.m., Field Operation Bureau Patrol Division deputies responded to a call for service for shots fired in the 2400 block of Garden Drive in Meraux.

When deputies got on the scene, they reportedly discovered that the five adolescents had come to the 17-year-old male’s residence on Garden Drive, where a physical altercation had occurred, allegedly prompting him to enter his residence and get a firearm.

After leaving the home, the 17-year-old male juvenile allegedly brandished the firearm and fired multiple shots, damaging the window of a neighboring home and the unoccupied vehicle of the teen group.
The five teenagers then fled the scene in their vehicle but were captured shortly after by deputies at a local restaurant in Meraux, Louisiana.

According to Sheriff Pohlmann, no one was hurt as a result of the firearm being discharged.

The 17-year-old was taken to the St. Bernard Juvenile Correctional Facility to face the allegations listed above.
The five other minors were sent with summonses to appear in court at a later date.

Throughout the course of the investigation, deputies reportedly discovered that some of the individuals involved in the Garden Drive incident are Chalmette High School students.

Sheriff Pohlmann and St. Bernard School Superintendent Doris Voitier are collaborating to have a heavy presence of deputies on the Chalmette High School campus for the next few days out of caution.

According to the Sheriff, the investigation is still ongoing.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information on this or any other type of criminal behavior in St. Bernard Parish contact the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477, or Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans at (504) 822-1111.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.