Crime tape marks off an area in the 1300 block of East Stephensville Road where a shooting occurred early Tuesday morning. Authorities say one person was transported to a hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds and was in stable condition as of Tuesday night. Three suspects have been charged with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting. (The Daily Review/Zachary Fitzgerald)
Devonte Michael Breaux
Matthew Vincent Harrigan
Nathanial Washington
(Updated) Three charged with attempted murder in Stephensville shooting
Three men have been charged with attempted first-degree murder following a shooting in Stephensville early Tuesday morning during which one victim was treated for gunshot wounds at a hospital, according to a St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office news release. Investigators believe robbery may have been the initial motive in the incident.
At about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 1300 block of East Stephensville Road in Stephensville. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a male victim who had sustained gunshot wounds and he was subsequently transported to an area hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition, the release said.
Investigators with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office discovered that a deputy who was responding to the scene noticed a dark-colored vehicle traveling toward Morgan City from the Stephensville area at a high rate of speed.
The Morgan City Police Department was notified and shortly after, Morgan City police officers spotted the vehicle as it entered Lake End Park. They initiated a traffic stop and shortly after the vehicle stopped, two occupants of the vehicle fled on foot.
A third occupant in the vehicle, Devonte Michael Breaux, was detained by Officers and a search was immediately initiated for the two that fled, the release stated.
At 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, the first of the two suspects that fled, Nathanial Washington, was apprehended by deputies when he was discovered hiding in a dumpster in the park. The second suspect, Matthew Vincent Harrigan, turned himself in to authorities with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office shortly before noon Tuesday. Investigators suspect that robbery was the initial motive.
Breaux, 19; Washington, 37; and Harrigan, 23, all of Morgan City, were each charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder.
Following their arrests, they were all booked in to the Morgan City jail. Harrigan was subsequently transported to the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center where he was booked, and Breaux and Washington will be extradited at a later date. No bail had been set as of Tuesday night.