The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 in LaPlace that left two people injured and led investigators to the recovery of five guns.
Authorities responded to a call regarding gunfire at 6:57 p.m. that was reported in the 1400 block of Yorktowne Drive in LaPlace. When deputies arrived on scene, they found Jayson Bardell Jr., 19, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Bardell was transported by Acadian Ambulance to University Medical Center in New Orleans for treatment. He was later released.
Deputies located a second gunshot victim about a block away in the 1300 block of Yorktowne, identified as Keith Hart. Hart, 17, was transported via ambulance to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The motive for the shootings is still under investigation. It appears the shooting occurred while Bardell and Hart were involved in the sale of a firearm with each other. No arrests have been made.
During the course of the initial investigation, detectives recovered five firearms.
Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at (985) 359-TIPS, Lt. Carolina Pineda of the Criminal Investigations Division at (504) 494-3840 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111. https://stjohnsheriff.org/crime-arrests/crime-tips/