Crime
Victim killed in Lafayette Maytag Laundromat shooting identified as 35-year-old Keith Ford
Renee Martin, 32, and Salvador Antonio De La Cruz Reyes, 30, were transported to a local hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have released additional information regarding a fatal shooting that occurred at a Lafayette laundromat on Thursday evening, December 5, 2024.
The shooting took place at approximately 7:40 p.m. at the Lafayette Laundromat, formerly known as Maytag Laundromat, located at 3100 South Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a man lying in the parking lot with critical injuries.
He was transported to IU Arnett Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner, Carrie Costello, identified the deceased as 35-year-old Keith Ford.
Inside the laundromat, officers found three more individuals suffering from gunshot wounds:
- Renee Martin, 32, and Salvador Antonio De La Cruz Reyes, 30, were transported to a local hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
- The alleged shooter, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and remains in critical condition.
The Lafayette Police Department (LPD) has confirmed that the suspected shooter is a man from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Investigators are collaborating with the Lincoln Police Department to gather more information about his background and potential motives.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still under investigation. Authorities have not indicated whether the victims and suspect knew each other or what prompted the violence.
This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the local community.
Police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward by contacting the Lafayette Police Department or submitting anonymous tips through the department’s hotline.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.