Staff report

 

Port Arthur police responded to three shootings, one involving an officer, and an aggravated robbery Friday night.

Port Arthur police late Friday were investigating an officer-involved shooting of an individual carrying a large weapon in western Port Arthur that may have stemmed from a domestic incident.

PAPD said in news release an officer attempted to stop and detain a male subject who was walking in the roadway carrying a large weapon. The officer exited from the vehicle and told the man numerous times to drop the weapon. The release said the armed man failed to comply with the officer’s demands to drop the weapon and continued advancing. At that time, the officer feared for his life, police said, and fired “several rounds” from his service weapon, striking the individual.

PAPD said the man was pronounced dead at the scene and that numerous witnesses corroborated the officer’s account of the shooting.

The incident remained under investigation by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office and the PAPD Criminal Investigation Division.

The late afternoon incident occurred around the intersection of 16^th Street and West Rev. Raymond Scott Avenue, in a neighborhood of older single-family dwellings.

Police said little as the evening wore on — Chief Tim Duriso was present, as were other high-ranking officers — and as many as a dozen police cars were at the scene. The victim’s body was removed around 7:40.

Neighborhood bystanders rose to as many as 20 or 30 at one point, usually with little being said. Officers remained huddled in conversation.

Officers also responded to two other, apparently unrelated shootings. One occurred at the Legacy Senior Apartments, 3225 Lake Arthur Drive, where a victim, an 81-year old male, was shot around the shoulder.

Police said a preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect(s) exchanged gunfire in the south parking lot of the complex. The victim is in serious but stable condition.

The third shooting incident took place at a restaurant on Highway 365.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with several witnesses that said three individuals exchanged fire in the parking lot west of KFC. Two were injured and went to the hospital by private vehicle.

The victims, 24 and 29, were Port Arthur residents and had non life-threatening injuries. Police said both victims refused to cooperate and were less than forthcoming about the incident.