AMY SZPARA

RESERVE – A 19-year-old Reserve man was arrested Monday for attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly shot his neighbor in the upper thigh with a shotgun. The incident occurred shortly after the victim chased the suspect from his daughter’s bedroom, according to authorities. The suspect, Edward McFloyd, of 530 Homewood Place, was arrested after St. John Parish sheriff’s deputies were called to Fred Johnson’s home at 521 Homewood Place to respond to a shooting. Johnson had been shot in the upper thigh, close to the buttocks area, with a shotgun. According to Capt. Mike Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the scene around 5:25 a.m. “Authorities arrived at the suspect’s house, and they secured the house and tried to get him to come out,” said Tregre. “He finally did come out of the house and was arrested.” After further investigation, deputies learned from Johnson that around 5 a.m. he found McFloyd in his 18-year-old daughter’s bedroom. He was in her closet under a blanket hiding. Johnson then told him to leave, but the two got into an argument. After a brief fight, McFloyd left the resident, said Tregre. “He and Johnson fought first,” Tregre said. “He climbed back out through the window and ran in the direction of his home.” A few minutes later, McFloyd allegedly returned to the residence with a shotgun. When Johnson looked out of the window, he saw McFloyd standing there with the gun pointed at him, Tregre said. “He came back with a shotgun and called for Johnson to come out. Johnson looked out a window by the closet in the room, and he was shot in the upper left thigh,” said Tregre. Johnson was immediately transported to River Parishes Hospital in LaPlace, where he was treated and later released. Along with attempted first-degree murder charges, McFloyd was booked with criminal damage to property. He is currently being held at the Sherman R. Correctional Center in LaPlace. McFloyd’s bond was set at $265,000.