The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office released surveillance video and more details from a gun store shooting on Saturday that left three people dead.
Sheriff Joseph Lopinto provided the an update in the shooting investigation on Monday in reference to the incident that occurred on February 20, 2021 at Jefferson Gun Outlet in Metairie.
Lopinto says that JPSO investigators collected over 200 pieces of evidence from the scene, recovered a total of 10 firearms, taken almost 3000 photographs, and conducted over two dozen interviews. "Our investigation to this point has led us to several facts and allowed us to develop the sequence of events that transpired during the incident."
Three deaths were reported following the shooting. They are listed a follows:
- Veronica Billiot, 59, of Belle Chasse, was shot by Joshua Williams during the initial instance of gunfire
- Herbert "Noah" Fischbach, 47, of Jefferson, was killed by Joshua Williams after he reentered the store and walked through seeking targets
- Joshua Williams, 32, of New Orleans, was killed while exchanging gunfire with several store employees in the parking lot of the location. It is yet to be determined which firearm fired the fatal shot.
JPSO says there were eight shooters in total during the incident including the suspect, Joshua Williams, and seven store employees. No customers fired any weapons during the incident.
All eight firearms used during the incident were recovered, along with two additional firearms from the vehicle operated by Joshua Williams
Lopinto says that Williams, his brother, and two children went to Jefferson Gun Outlet to purchase ammunition. While they were inside, a store employee noticed that Williams was in possession of a loaded firearm. The employee advised Williams that he would need to unload the weapon to remain in the store, and Williams allegedly refused multiple times.
JPSO says that during the discussion, Williams walked to the store's exit and opened the door before shooting into the air. Veronica Billiot was moving towards the door, and Williams allegedly redirected the firearm to point it at her, then shot her. Williams then turned and engaged employees in an exchange of gunfire before briefly exiting the store. Williams reentered the store, passed his brother to advance towards the store's counter, and fired again, fatally wounding Noah Fischbach.
Lopinto says that Williams then went to the rear of the store before exiting and being confronted by other store employees. Williams was killed in an exchange of gunfire with those employees. Two additional employees were wounded by gunfire in the exchanges with Williams; one in the initial exchange and one in the parking lot.
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