A Lawtell doctor is expected to be okay after he was shot during a home invasion.
It happened around midnight on Depot Street at the home of Doctor John Vallian. He’s a well-known general practitioner and nephrologist in St. Landry Parish. Vallian has been practicing more than 20 years.
This morning, family members heard the shots. Joseph Vallian, Sr. said, “My wife next door called me and said she heard two shots at my brother’s house. Two or three shots. When I got there, I heard him hollering for help.”
When Joseph made it inside his brother’s home, he found Dr. Vallian sitting in the hallway, covered in blood.
“I couldn’t do too much for him except help him the best way I could,” said Joseph.
His brother was air lifted to a Lafayette hospital. Family members believe the suspect or suspects were after money.
“I saw a $5 bill in the yard,” Joseph said. “It looked like they took some money and dropped the $5 in the yard while running away. I knew they must have taken some money.”
While on scene, we noticed no windows were broken and it also appeared there was no damage to any doors.
Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said, “We have some ideas about what happened and how it happened, but we will hold that information for now.”
Deputies hope Dr. Vallian will soon be strong enough to give details of what happened.
“We like to have as much information as we can get within the first six to eight hours, but that isn’t happening right now,” said Guidroz. “We believe when he comes out of it, he’ll have a lot to say.”
If you have any information on this crime, call St. Landry Parish CrimeStoppers at 948-TIPS.
