Two arrested after fight at party

Published 12:00 am Saturday, October 16, 2010

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A Norco man and a LaPlace man were arrested last Saturday night following a brawl that ended in gunfire at a party at a LaPlace country club, according to a spokesman for the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said no one was injured in the fracas, which took place at about 11:51 p.m. last Saturday at Belle Terre Golf & Country Club. The suspects arrested in connection with the shooting were Dexter Lawrence, 17, of Good Hope Street in Norco, and Warren Lennix Jr., 19 of Yorktowne Drive in LaPlace.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called out to the country club on Fairway Drive in LaPlace, where a private party was being held. Clement said when a fight broke out among the guests at the party the host ended the party early and cleared the building. As the guests were entering the parking lot, several shots were fired. Investigators have not determined what prompted the fight.

Clement said witnesses told deputies the suspect shooting the gun left the parking lot in a white truck. He said deputies were able to track down the vehicle in the 300 block of West Airline Highway with Lawrence and Lennix inside. A search of the truck revealed a Smith and Wesson .357 revolver, which was confiscated.

Lawrence was charged with illegal use of a weapon and illegal carrying of a weapon, while Lennix was charged with illegal carrying of a weapon. Clement said Lawrence was released on a $30,000 bond and Lennix was released on a $15,000 bond.