Crime
50-year-old Patricia Shepard shot and killed in case of mistaken identity at Chevron gas station in Hammond
NEW ORLEANS – A 50-year-old woman was shot and killed early Thursday at a Chevron gas station on Highway 190, according to Hammond police.
Officers responded at 1:15 a.m. and found Patricia Shepard shot multiple times inside a parked car at the gas pump, according to authorities.
Police said she died at the scene near Westin Oak Drive.
According to police, a white sedan pulled up next to the parked gray sedan. Two suspects got out of the white car, firing between 70 to 80 gunshots into the gray car while Shepard was inside.
Security footage shows the suspects speeding away westbound toward I-55, police said.
Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. said the department believes the suspects were trying to target someone and thought the person in the car was somebody else.
โThe lady in the car, Ms. Patricia, who has lost her life, was an absolutely innocent victim in this,โ Bergeron said.
Bergeron said Shepard was getting a ride home from work from the driver of the gray sedan. The suspects had stalked the car and were targeting someone who had already gotten out, he said.
โShe was at the wrong place unfortunately at the wrong time,โ Bergeron said.
The suspectsโ vehicle was stolen during a carjacking in McComb, Mississippi, on Tuesday, according to police. Detectives traveled to McComb to help track down the suspects in the crime, they said.
โThese are the people that are affecting our community. These are the trash bags that are destroying communities across our country every single day,โ Bergeron said.
Terrence Selders, who works near the crime scene, said he could have easily been there Thursday morning.
Bergeron added detectives believe they know some motives in the case, but they are not releasing those details at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call Hammond Police Detective Dustin Williams at 985-277-5755 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-554-5245
TAUNTON, Mass. โ One person was killed and seven others were injured in an overnight shooting at a house party in Taunton, Massachusetts, authorities said.
The shooting happened at approximately 12:35 a.m. Sunday at a residence in the 261 Weir Street area. Taunton police officers responded after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots.
When officers arrived, they found several people suffering from gunshot wounds. Investigators were also informed that additional victims had already been transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.
Authorities ultimately identified eight shooting victims, all of whom were reportedly in their early 20s.
One of the victims, 22-year-old Zirovick Depina of Brockton, was pronounced dead early Sunday morning, according to the Bristol County District Attorneyโs Office.
Of the seven surviving victims, one remains in serious but stable condition, while the others suffered injuries that were considered non-life-threatening. Their identities have not been publicly released.
The shooting occurred during a gathering at the residence. Images from the scene showed a tent and tables in the yard, along with white balloons and what appeared to be a photo backdrop near a garage.
A neighbor told authorities that large gatherings and loud parties had reportedly been common at the residence.
The home is located about a mile from the Taunton Police Department headquarters. The neighbor expressed concern about the shooting occurring in the area, particularly given the late-night activity.
The investigation is being conducted by Taunton Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorneyโs Office, and other investigative units. Detectives are working to determine what led to the gunfire and identify those responsible.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Taunton police or investigators with the Bristol County District Attorneyโs Office.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional information is expected as authorities continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.