LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) – One of two New Iberia teens shot by a Youngsville business owner after the pair allegedly burglarized the man’s firearms business has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors charged a 17-year-old with two counts of simple burglary and a count of resisting an officer in the Dec. 28 incident that resulted in the death of his alleged accomplice, 19-year-old Latorious Walker.
The Advocate reports he teen remains in jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond. A public defender represented him in court Monday, although no one has been appointed to his case.
Police say George Fournet shot the teens after confronting them during a burglary-in-progress at The Post Exchange, his firearms sales and marksman training facility.
Walker was found dead sitting in a car and the 17-year-old had been shot once.
Youngsville gunshop robbey ends in deadly shooting
A robbery that turned deadly happened around 10 pm on Sunday night.
The gun owner filed a report with police after discovering several guns were missing from his shop. This was after the stores alarm had been tripped and just two hours later the same alarm was tripped again. The owner returned to the business to investigate and that’s when police say shots were fired.
The suspects are Latorious Walker (19), and Lamar Brooks (17). Police believe the owner and the two suspects got into an altercation at the store.
“The two suspects were in a vehicle and they actually drove the vehicle at him, attempting to hit him. They hit the building and also struck him.” said Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office PIO Capt. Craig Stansbury.
Police say the business owner saw the driver pointing a gun at him. The business owner, who was armed with a handgun, fired several shots at the car in defense. The suspects then sped away in the stolen vehicle.
“We ended up finding the vehicle, I believe, on Linden-Louis road which is not far from the scene. Upon our arrival there we found the driver in the vehicle. He was deceased and had several gunshot wounds. The passenger was also there with one gunshot wound.” said Stansbury.
The stolen items from both robberies were recovered from a suspect’s stolen vehicle. The passenger, Lamar Brooks was taken into custody and treated at the hospital. The business owner was also treated at the hospital for his