On Thursday, August 31, 2023, at approximately 02:00 pm the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of the 1400 block of Cartier Dr. in Laplace in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located a male subject who suffered from a single gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Through the course of their investigations detectives with the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division identified Jonathan Williams of Laplace and Dederick Zeno also of Laplace as suspects in the homicide.
Mr. Zeno was located at his residence and was later charged with one count of Principal to Second Degree Murder. Mr. Zeno is currently being held on a $175,350.00 bond.
Williams was located with the assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office on a Greyhound Bus travelling to Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Williams was detained and found to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Mr. Williams was charged with one count of Second Degree Murder. Mr. Williams is currently in the custody of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone who may have information regarding this homicide is encouraged to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS, the Criminal Investigations Division Captain Brandon Barlow at 504-494-2674, or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Citizens can also submit tips on the Sheriff’s Office website at http://stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php