By LEONARD GRAY

EDGARD – A 22-year-old LaPlace man was booked Monday with two counts of attempted second-degree murder after he allegedly shot two men outside a school party in Edgard Sunday evening.

The suspect, Brandon Hall, of 382 Fairway Drive, was one of three men arguing reportedly over a woman outside West St. John Elementary School around 8 p.m. Hall, according to Capt. Michael Tregre of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, pulled a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and started firing. One bullet struck Brian Lumar, 19, of 132 E. Fifth St. in Edgard, with whom Hall had been arguing.

The bullet struck Lumar just above the right hip. A second bullet struck Christopher Johnson, 19, of 130 Philip Court in Edgard, in the right shoulder. Johnson was in the vicinity but not involved in the argument.

What brought them to the scene was a end-of-the-year party for students being held at the time in the school cafeteria. The event was invitation-only but Tregre did not know at press time whether Lee and Lumar were invited guests. A third bullet struck a 2000 Jeep Cherokee parked not far away, belonging to one of the party organizers.

The woman involved, not identified by Tregre, had been having a problem with a certain man, likewise not identified. She approached her cousin, Lumar, for help and he got into an argument with the man outside the school.

The man’s friend, identified as Hall, tried to intervene and pulled out a handgun and started firing.

Lumar and Johnson were taken to St. Charles Parish Hospital by friends. Lumar was recently moved from the intensive care unit into a private room. Johnson was treated for his wound and released.