By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish said this morning that investigators have identified and arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for one of three unsolved murders in the Reserve area over the past two months.

Steven James Ellis Jr., 23, of 1507 Grant St., LaPlace, was arrested Monday evening after a raid on his home around 8:25 p.m. Investigators believe that Ellis is responsible for the murder of Jamar Vinnette, who was gunned down May 6 on East 13th Street in Reserve.

Jones said a search of Ellis’ home uncovered drugs and five handguns, three of which were previously reported stolen in St. John Parish. He also said a vehicle believed to have been used by suspects to flee the scene of the murder was recovered last night in St. James Parish. All evidence has been turned over to the State Police Crime Lab to be processed.

Ellis was booked with second-degree murder and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPalce on a $751,500 bond.

Investigators believe that the murders of Vinnette and Eliza Fleming, which happened in May, and Frank Lewis, which happened in June, are related in some way, but specific details were not released. The killings sparked a community rally and a candlelight vigil in an effort to stop the violence in the community.

L’Observateur will update this story as it continues to develop.