LAFAYETTE - One of three men shot outside a Crowley housing development two weeks ago has succumbed to his injuries.
Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard announced Friday evening that Howard Claiborne, 47, had died in a Lafayette hospital.
Claiborne was one of three victims shot several times on Dec. 22 in the 500 block of Dejean Circle. The other victims, Gregory Gray and Michael Harmon, were released with moderate injuries.
“Our detectives are still working tirelessly to solve this incident, which has now been classified as a homicide, in our city,” said Broussard. “It is so disheartening that now a grieving family must lay to rest one of their family members over some senseless violence.”
Police were called to Dejean Circle just before 5:20 p.m. on Dec. 22 to find the three victims, each shot several times, outside the housing development.
Witnesses at the scene told officers that two masked shooters — described as “thin, black males” — had opened fire on the three victims before fleeing the area.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Claiborne’s family but it makes our resolve even more to find the persons involved and bring them to justice and possibly bring an end to all of this senseless violence.”
Broussard is asking anyone with any further information to contact the Crowley Police Department at 783-1234 or Crime Stoppers of Acadia Parish at 789-TIPS.
“If this were your relative that met with such a horrible ending, you would want someone coming forward,” Broussard said. “For this family and their hope of closure in this senseless loss, we need the public’s assistance in bringing these subjects to justice.”
Broussard said in an earlier statement that it is not known if the shooting was gang- or drug-related or if it was retaliation for an earlier shooting.
That incident occurred on Dec. 14 at a car wash business near the intersection of Stouh Parkerson Avenue and East Mill Street where Traylon Lewis, 28, of Church Point, was shot multiple times at about 5:30 p.m.
According to witness statements and video, the assailant came from the back of the business, approached the victim and began firing multiple rounds at him on the roadway.
Surveillance video in the area tracked the alleged shooter — described as a tall, thin African American man wearing a gray hoodie, light gray sweat pants and red and black tennis shoes— as he fled the scene on foot, turning south on South Avenue G.
Investigators discovered some shell casings, along with other evidence that has been sent to the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory for analysis.
