The epidemic of violence continued in Bogalusa, when an unidentified man was shot and killed this past Saturday evening.
Bogalusa police have identified a suspect in the homicide and as of press time they were still seeking him. The suspect was identified by Bogalusa police as Dae’Von J. Gay, age 20.
Bogalusa police said the murder happened shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday evening near the intersection of North Border Drive and Virginia Avenue.
It was the second murder in Bogalusa in a matter of days. Earlier last week, on Tuesday, 50-year-old Vernique Allen was killed in a drive-by shooting while she was sitting inside her home. Police said she was apparently an innocent and unintended victim of the drive-by shooter.
These two homicides make the 4th and 5th in Bogalusa in 2022, and the city has recorded 59 shootings in total this year, including one that occured Sunday night (August 28).
Bogalusa police blame the epidenic of violence on drugs and gangs.
The total of recent shootings and homicides in Bogalusa far outstrips any violence in previous time periods.
And it has some people in Franklinton worried about Friday night’s (September 2) football game between Franklinton High and Bogalusa High.
At the most recent Franklinton City Council meeting, Mayor Greg Route said some parents are concerned. He asked Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown to see if the game could be moved to Franklinton or cancelled altogether.
However, Shane Smith, principal at Franklinton High School and the former FHS head football coach, said on Monday that the game will be played at Lumberjack Stadium in Bogalusa as scheduled.
“I have never felt unsafe in Lumberjack Stadium,” Smith said.
He added, “The student athletes from both schools deserve an opportunity to play. This is about our schools coming together on Friday night in the spirit of high school competition.”
