LAPLACE — How they got together is still unknown, but the violence they inflicted on an unsuspecting St. John the Baptist Parish, authorities said, will not soon be forgotten.

St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre called the four suspects an odd collection that was “extremely dangerous” and one that formed into a “minor criminal organization.”

Those arrested include Byron Green, 39, of New Orleans; Develyn Smith, 24, of Reserve; Reiontae Ward, 18, of New Orleans; and a 13-year-old female from New Orleans.

Police said none of the four are related and it is undetermined how the suspects came to know each other and decide to “wreak havoc” on unsuspecting residents across Reserve and LaPlace. Based on investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said the group may be tied to crimes being investigated by surrounding agencies across the metro area.

Police were alerted to the reported crime spree when an armed robbery call went out at approximately 7:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Riverside Drive in Reserve. A 14-year-old male told police he was using his iPhone outside his home when a midsized SUV drove toward him.

“A young slender subject, wearing a black hooded shirt” exited the passenger side, police said, and demanded his phone and belongings. When he refused, the assailant pointed a handgun and struck him in the mouth with it.

After handing over the phone and cash, the assailant fled. The victim refused medical treatment.

About 20 minutes later, officers responded to the Riverlands movie theater parking lot (1300 block of West Airline Highway in LaPlace) in reference to an attempted carjacking.

A 41-year-old woman sitting in her running vehicle said a young assailant, later identified as a juvenile, wearing a hooded shirt approached the driver’s window, pointed a gun and demanded the driver exit.

The victim then sped away, and the suspect fled the scene. The victim was uninjured.

Approximately 45 minutes later, officers responded to the 200 block of Somerset Street in LaPlace and learned an older couple was exiting their vehicle when two people approached, one wearing a black hooded shirt and the other wearing a black T-shirt.

One subject, later identified as a juvenile, pointed a gun at them and demanded the 70-year-old female’s and 60-year-old male’s belongings.

When the woman refused, the juvenile struck her with the gun while the other subject hit her husband. When the couple gave up their belongings, the perpetrators fled. Emergency medical services arrived on scene and took the couple to a local hospital, where they were treated and released.

“The dispatcher, from the first call that came in, gathered all the necessary description and details,” Tregre said. “They started seeing the similarities and knew, ‘we have got to find this car.’ They put it out to all agencies in this region. Sure enough, one of our units spotted the car (on U.S. 51 near Woodland Drive in LaPlace) and the chase started on I-10.”

Police said the driver, later identified as Ward, refused to stop. The pursuit continued eastbound as St. Charles deputies and Louisiana State Police joined, ending at the Highway 3127 off ramp, where Ward stopped the vehicle and fled into the marsh.

Officers detained the vehicle’s passengers — Green, Smith and the juvenile. Smith’s 8-year-old son also was a passenger. He was turned over to his grandmother. Shortly after, Ward came out of the marsh and was arrested.

“First things first, I’m just glad we got them off the street,” Tregre said. “I’m glad no one got killed or seriously injured. Hopefully our couple that got pistol-whipped are going to be fine as they recover.

“The weapons were loaded. At the rate it was going and when you start beating someone with a handgun, the next thing that could possibly happen is somebody getting killed.”

Tregre said the assailants wreaked havoc and he hopes they are “held fully accountable to what they did to people who were minding their own business.”

Byron Green is charged with two counts armed robbery with a firearm (felony), attempted carjacking (felony), and simple burglary – motor vehicle. Green is being held in lieu of a $170,000 bond.

Develyn Smith is charged with two counts armed robbery with a firearm (felony), improper supervision of minor by parent/legal custodian (felony), attempted carjacking, simple burglary, and two counts contributing to the delinquency of juveniles (felony). Smith is being held in lieu of a $195,000 bond.

Reiontae Ward is charged with two counts armed robbery with a firearm (felony), attempted carjacking (felony), illegal possession of stolen things (felony), and aggravated flight from an officer by vehicle (felony). Ward was transferred to St. Charles Parish detention and assigned a $148,500 bond.

The juvenile was charged with two counts armed robbery with a firearm (felony), simple burglary, attempted carjacking (felony), and was wanted on a juvenile probation warrant from the New Orleans Police Department. The juvenile has been transferred to the New Orleans Juvenile Center.