Church Point shootings
By Howell Dennis
NEWS EDITOR
CROWLEY – A disagreement over a set of tires Saturday night led to one man being killed and three others injured at a house where a birthday party was being held in Church Point last Saturday night.
Jonathan Lee Citizen, 29, of Martin Luther King St. in Church Point, arrived at the birthday party in at approximately 8:30 p.m. and a disagreement ensued where Citizen struck a man in the face before leaving.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. Citizen returned in his car and committed a drive-by shooting striking one person in the leg and above the right eye.
The incident was then reported to the Church Point Police Department who began looking for Citizen. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department was called in shortly afterward to join the investigation.
However, Citizen again returned to the same residence armed with a .22 rifle where he again began shooting and struck another male subject in the leg and shoulder. Citizen was then approached Paul Reginald Landry, who knew Citizen, and pleaded with him to stop shooting.
Citizen responded by shooting him seven times, striking him in the chest, back, and head area. Landry was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner’s Office.
“It’s very upsetting,” said Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon during a press conference Tuesday morning. “We see things like this on the national news and now it’s hitting close to home.”
“Our sympathies go out to the Landry family,” said Melancon. “This was a man who was simply trying to stop the suspect, acting as a peacemaker, and he ended up dying for it.”
During the investigation, Church Point Police Chief Albert Venable stated that he received a phone call stating that Citizen was seen at a nightclub in the Opelousas area. He was arrested without incident by the Opelousas Police Department.
“This was a joint investigation between the Church Point Police Department and the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office,” stated Sheriff Wayne Melancon. “I would also like to thank the Opelousas Police for their assistance in apprehending Mr. Citizen.”
Citizen has been charged with attempted second degree murder, second degree murder, attempted first degree murder, and second degree battery.
His bond has been set at $1,000,015 by District Judge Kristian Earles.