Harlan Kirgan
Social media blew up over an event at the Knights of Columbus Hall on North 2nd Street early Sunday morning.
The Eunice Police Department radio dispatch logs received a report of shots fired at the KC Hall at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
The event was a party with about 300 people in attendance to be entertained by two rap musicians, Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
In a social media post on Monday, Fontenot stated, “At least one officer was on scene when a shots fired complaint was made. Other officers responded quickly, most within a minute. No evidence of a gun being being discharged was found. One door and the window of that door were damaged, the result of a fight.”
No shell casings or bullet holes were found, he said.
“Nobody got hit. Nobody saw anybody with a gun or shooting a gun,” Fontenot said.
There was a window broken out of a door and when it hit the concrete floor the glass shattered, he said.
“People thought it was a gunshot,” he said.
Police discovered there was a charge to enter the event, but there was no occupational license. The organizers were told they could not collect an entry fee for the event that started about 8 p.m., he said.
At the same time, Eunice Police Lt. Robert Brickley called on other officers to monitor the function.
In Fontenot’s social media post he stated, “I have spoken with the officers who responded to the complaints this weekend and other parties involved. I have reviewed the reports and police logs. I have also reviewed some Facebook posts and the complaints reported therein. The posts on Facebook are not based on the factual information found in the police reports, logs and officer accounts. I stand by my officers, their actions over the weekend and commend these officers for their outstanding service to our city.”
A Eunice Police officer made posts on social media about the incident. Fontenot said the officer’s post were “not quite factual” and “didn’t match what officers on the scene reported to me.”
The officer’s post started a frenzy of other posts on Facebook, he said.
Fontenot stated, “We cannot monitor social media and respond to concerns posted via social media. If you have information of a crime, please report this information to the police department by calling or speaking with an officer or, report the information through Crime Stoppers. Posts on Facebook pages will not result in a timely and official response.”