By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish are investigating a trio of robberies in Reserve Saturday evening that occurred within minutes of each other.

Based on eyewitness accounts and information from the victims involved, investigators think the three robberies, which occurred within a seven-minute time span, were all committed by the same individuals, said Capt. Dane Clement, a spokesman for the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

According to a release, the first incident took place at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Reserve Drive.

A 25-year-old male victim told deputies he saw three male subjects dressed in all black clothing walking in a trailer park in the block. 

The men allegedly approached the victim, struck him in the head with a revolver, fired a shot and demanded money. 

At that point, a second victim, a 25-year-old male, approached the group to help the first victim, Clement said.

The second man was unable to get to the first victim and both surrendered their wallets to the armed men. Clement said as the suspect fled, additional shots were fired striking a trailer. 

Clement said the initial victim, who sustained the blow to the head was the only one injured. He was not hospitalized.

Minutes later, a 41-year-old female victim called deputies to report that three men in black hooded jackets robbed her in her driveway. The incident occurred in the 200 block of West Seventh Street just a few blocks from the first incident, Clement said.

The report from police said the woman was approached in her driveway, and one of the suspects pulled a revolver and asked, “Where’s your money?”

The woman pointed to her car, and the two other suspects grabbed her purse, a cell phone and a jacket from the vehicle.

Clement said the armed man struck the victim in the head with the revolver, and all three fled the scene heading south on West Seventh Street.

The woman was not seriously injured in the incident.

The third incident occurred in the 100 block of Terrance Street, which is one block from West Seventh Street.

Clement said a 19-year-old male victim told deputies he was delivering a pizza in the area when three male subjects wearing black hooded jackets robbed him. One of the subjects, armed with a handgun, demanded the victim give him his money. 

Clement said the victim surrendered a small sum of cash, and the perpetrators fled south on Terrance Street then left on Hart Street.

Clement said detectives fanned out in the area Monday and Tuesday to seek clues and information from residents. Detectives currently have no suspects.

Anyone with any information regarding the robberies should call St. John Parish Detectives at 985-359-8769 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.