PA man shot outside gas station, one person in custody

Published 1:41 pm Thursday, December 22, 2016

A 38-year-old Port Arthur man is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police say he shot another man parked at the gas pumps at Raceway, 2705 Memorial Blvd. around 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

Port Arthur Police Maj. John Owens said there was a verbal altercation between two men that escalated to a physical confrontation.

Placards mark evidence after a shooting at Raceway, 2705 Memorial Blvd. on Wednesday night. Gabriel Pruett/The News

Placards mark evidence after a shooting at Raceway, 2705 Memorial Blvd. on Wednesday night.
Gabriel Pruett/The News

The victim, a 30-year-old Port Arthur man, was inside his car with his wife and small child when the suspect began firing from a rifle at the vehicle, according to a press release from the police department. The shooting was at close range.

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The victim was hit while in his vehicle and drove across the street for help before collapsing in the parking lot of M&M Superette. He was able to provide police with a description of the suspect and suspect vehicle.

Port Arthur Police officers look at evidence placards outside Raceway following a shooting. Gabriel Pruett/The News

Port Arthur Police officers look at evidence placards outside Raceway following a shooting.
Gabriel Pruett/The News

As additional officers arrived in the area, they found the suspect still in the parking lot of Raceway and arrested him.

Owens said he could not comment as to why the suspect remained at the scene, if the men knew each other or the number of shots fired.

The victim was sent to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont and his injuries are believed to be non-life threatening. The victim’s wife and child were not injured during the incident.

Owens said police do not believe the shooting is related to recent shootings at Louis Manor Apartments.

The name of the suspect was not available as of mid-day Thursday.

The case remains under investigation by police. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Port Arthur Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.