Two people were injured and one person died in three shootings that have happened in Opelousas since Sunday morning.
The first shooting happened early Sunday on Plaisance Street; police were called there about 3 a.m. They found a man and woman had been shot; the man died immediately and the woman was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
The initial investigation determined that several rounds were fired at a house; six people were inside but no other people were hurt. Police say they don't know why that house was targeted.
Two more shootings happened Sunday night, and Monday morning. Police were called to Garland Avenue around 10 p.m. and found a woman hit by bullets while lying in bed in her home. Investigators found multiple rounds had been fired at the house. The woman was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
The third shooting happened around 5:30 a.m. on Westwego Street. Dozens of rounds were fired into homes there; one house was hit 19 times, police say. Nobody got hurt in that shooting, police say.
Police are asking for tips in these cases.
"Investigators have developed leads that point to the recent shootings over the past 24 Hours being related to some degree. Investigators have been monitoring social media and have noticed groups are engaging in inflammatory exchanges that suggest the shootings maybe retaliatory in nature," a release states. "Investigators have developed several persons of interest and will be looking to question all parties who are suspected in being involved in these events. The department has received great support from the community and implores the community to provide any information they have about these senseless acts of gun violence."
Opelousas Police ask anyone with any information related to this shooting to contact the Opelousas Police Department at 337-948-2500, crimetips@opelousaspd.com or through Crime Stoppers (337-948-TIPS, www.stlandrycrimestoppers.com [stlandrycrimestoppers.com] or by using the P3 mobile App.) Tipsters can remain anonymous. Tipsters can receive up to a $2500.00 cash reward.
