Steve Bandy/Crowley Post-Signal
Police here continue to investigate a pair of shootings that left four people hospitalized.
The incidents occurred in different areas of the city just eight days apart.
The first was on Dec. 14, at a business near the intersection of South Parkerson Avenue and East Mill Street; the next on Dec. 22, in the 500 block of DeJean Circle in the western area of the city.
“We are asking for the public’s help,” said Police Chief Jimmy Broussard. “If anyone has seen or heard anything concerning either of these incidents, we urge you to contact the Crowley Police Department at 788-1234 or Crime Stoppers of Acadia Parish at 789-TIPS (789-8477)”
In the Dec. 14 incident, Traylon Lewis, 28, of Church Point, was shot multiple times at about 5:30 p.m.
Witnesses at an nearby business said they heard eight shots fired and saw two men fighting on East Mill Street.
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.
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.
Investigators discovered some shell casings, along with other evidence that has been sent to the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory for analysis.
Broussard said the motive of the shooting is still being investigated, although, “it is a strong possibility that it was drug/gang related.”
Lewis remains hospitalized in serious to critical condition, according to Broussard.
On Dec. 22, police were called to a shooting on DeJean Circle just before 5:20 p.m.
Officers arrived to find that Howard Claiborne, Gregory Troy Gray and Troy Harmon had been shot several times outside the housing development there.
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.
Broussard said it is not known if the shooting was gang- or drug-related or if it was retaliation for the shooting on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Broussard said two of the three victims have been released from the hospital. The third remains in guarded condition.