UPDATED: After fatal shooting, Franklin mayor asks for cooperation with police

Staff report

Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard issued another public appeal Saturday after an apparent drive-by shooting killed a 65-year-old woman and wounded her son.

The shooting was the latest in a series of violent incidents in Franklin and Baldwin.

Franklin police haven't identified the victims of the shooting, which was reported to the department about 12:21 a.m. Saturday.

Among multiple calls reporting shots fired on Martin Luther King, one was from a man, 42, who said he'd been shot and that he believed his mother had been wounded, too.

Officers arrived to find the woman had died. The man was taken to a local hospital.

Through investigation, it was learned that a vehicle drove past the area and shot several rounds toward the residence, the Police Department said.

Anyone with information regarding the vehicle is urged to call the Franklin Police Department Detective Division as soon as possible at 337-828-1716.

Foulcard posted a statement on his Facebook page to say he believes local people are better than the shootings would indicate. He hopes they'll show it by cooperating with police in solving violent crimes.

"One cannot fathom the state of mourning our community is currently going through," Foulcard wrote.

"We see it time and time again of many communities in Acadiana going through the same issues but neighborhoods fail to work with authorities and help get the wrongdoers off the streets.

"Constantly making excuses for the ones 'caught in the system' when they could have possibly prevented a family now feeling the pain of loss of a loved one and another fighting to stay alive."

He closed his statement with "God Bless the City of Franklin."

Among the recent shootings in the area:

--Brian Gibson Jr., 23, of Baldwin was shot and killed May 1. Police have arrested two people: Anthony Hills on a second-degree murder
charge and Rashonda Thomas as an accessory after the fact.

--Franklin police arrested Joseph Daniels Jr. 24, Franklin, on an illegal use of weapons charge in a May 22 shooting at Magnolia and Maple streets, the Police Department said.

Several calls reported shots fired in the area. One caller told police a bullet had entered a home.

--Police are looking for J'Trell Connor, who is accused of criminal damage to property as well as shooting one victim and threatening another. The incident happend May 25 in area near Third and Iberia streets in Franklin.

Another recent arrest resulted from a 2020 shooting in Baldwin.

--Adreniki Franklin, 29, Baton Rouge, was arrested on second-degree murder and obstruction charges May 31 in the death of Karlinita Marks, 25, Baldwin in 2020.