(Updated) Suspect sought in alleged kidnapping

Morgan City police are searching for a suspect in a early Tuesday morning kidnapping during which two suspects allegedly kidnapped a man, threw him in the trunk of a vehicle and brought him to Franklin. The kidnapping victim was able to escape and was treated for injuries at a hospital.

Police arrested one suspect Tuesday in the alleged kidnapping. That suspect was also allegedly the target of a shooting that occurred Tuesday.

Maitland Elementary and Immanuel Christian schools in Morgan City were placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after multiple gunshots were reported in the area of Laurel Street. No one was allegedly hit by the gunfire, but a bullet struck a home on Louisa Street, Morgan City Police Lt. John Schaff said.

Police took one person into custody following the shooting and arrested him in connection with a kidnapping that took place earlier Tuesday morning.

The person, Trajuan M. Pitts, 19, of St. Joseph Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of resisting an officer and on a warrant charging him with second-degree kidnapping. No bail was set yet.

Pitts was allegedly a target of the shooting that occurred Tuesday on Laurel Street.

Police are searching for another suspect in the alleged kidnapping. Davonte Williams, 26, whose last known address is Bowman Street in Morgan City, is wanted on a warrant charging him with second-degree kidnapping.

Neither school was directly involved in the shooting incident, but were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure while police investigated the matter, Schaff said.

The shooting occurred shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday, and the lockdowns were lifted around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

It is unknown if there is a possible link in regards to the kidnapping and shooting incidents, a Morgan City police news release said.

Police had been investigating a potential kidnapping that occurred around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

During the investigation, police received a call at 9:11 a.m. Tuesday and responded to the area of Laurel Street in regard to several shots being fired, Schaff said.

Officers arrived in the area of Laurel Street and were given a description of a subject fleeing the scene. They then located Pitts running on Franklin Street, and officers eventually took him into custody, Schaff said.

But, as of Wednesday morning, police had “vague” information on the shooting, and had no suspects, he said. The shooting incident remains under investigation.

Pitts and Williams had allegedly attacked another man in the area of Leona Street early Tuesday morning. They then threw the victim into the trunk of a vehicle and drove him to the Franklin area, Schaff said.

The kidnapping victim was able to escape from the trunk in Franklin and flee the area from the suspects, Schaff said.

Franklin police brought the kidnapping victim to Franklin Foundation Hospital to be treated for injuries.

Anyone with information on the alleged shooting or kidnapping is asked to call the Morgan City Police Department Detectives Division at 985-380-4605.