By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect wanted in connection with Tuesday’s shooting in LaPlace and is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the man.

Deputies responded to a residence in the 100 block of West 3rd Street in LaPlace at 4:59 p.m. Tuesday for the report of a shooting.

When they arrived at the scene, deputies found a 24-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound to his left leg. EMS treated the victim and took him to a New Orleans area hospital.

Authorities named Antonio Jones, the victim’s cousin, as a suspect Wednesday, and described him as a 30-year-old black male who is 5-feet, 9 inches tall with a bald head. Authorities said Jones weighs approximately 210 pounds and was wearing a white T-shirt and pajama bottoms with cartoon characters at the time of the shooting.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said Jones fled the area on foot and was last seen near the intersection of West 2nd Street and Satsuma Street.

Sgt. Dane Clement said, as of Wednesday morning, the victim had refused to cooperate with detectives investigating the shooting.

Tregre said the investigation revealed the victim was Jones’ intended target, and detectives have obtained a judicial court ordered arrest warrant for Jones.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting or knowing the whereabouts of Jones is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Residents with information who call Crimestoppers do not have to testify in court and may qualify for a cash reward. They can also submit tips at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.