Patterson police searching for shooting suspect

Patterson police are searching for a suspect wanted in connection with a Friday night shooting. The intended victim in the case wasn’t hit by gunfire, Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said.

Robert J. Parker Jr., 37, of Patterson, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm in the city limits, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting an officer by flight stemming from a Friday night shooting, a news release said.

On Friday night, Parker approached a person near the intersection of Sixth and Park streets in Patterson, LaSalle said. Parker is accused of firing a gun three times at a young male victim, LaSalle said. The victim wasn’t hit, though, LaSalle said.

According to the news release, the Patterson Police Department was informed of gunshots in the area of Park Street.

Police later received a call from Darrell Gash requesting an officer to Dollar General in reference to being shot at by Parker, the release said.

On Saturday, police attempted to arrest Parker, but he evaded authorities, LaSalle said. Police did recover a 26 Glock pistol with extended magazines capable of holding up to 60 rounds of ammunition that Parker is believed to have used in the shooting, LaSalle said.

The pistol was the type of weapon taken from Parker during an prior arrest, the release said.

Parker is a convicted felon and has “an extensive violent background,” LaSalle said. Parker is described as 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds.

Anyone with information on Parker or the shooting may call the Patterson Police Department at 985-395-6161.