By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said two “persons of interest” are in custody in connection with a burglary and shooting in LaPlace Tuesday afternoon that left one dead and another in the hospital.

The shooting happened at LaPlace Feed and Supply Co., 116 Sleepy Redwood St.

Tregre held a press conference at 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening and said a 9-1-1 call was received at 2:36 p.m. from an employee at the store. When officers arrived at the scene, they reported that two employees, one male and one female, had been shot during an apparent burglary. The cash register was reported as missing from the store.

The male victim, identified as Steve Finckbeiner, 63, was pronounced dead at the scene. The female victim, 58-year-old Constance Finckbeiner, was sent to a nearby hospital. Tregre said the persons of interest have been detained by the Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

A portion of West Fifth Street in LaPlace between Hemlock and Main Street was closed Tuesday afternoon in response to the burglary and shooting.

The investigation led to John L. Ory, Emily C. Watkins and St. Joan of Arc elementary schools in the immediate vicinity being placed on lockdown for portions of the afternoon.