St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested four people in connection with a shooting that happened Thursday in Lawtell, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says.
Two people were shot during an argument on Durosseau Road. Witnesses saw suspects fleeing in a white Chevrolet Avalance, deputies said at the time. They found the vehicle and detained the people inside.
Deputies allege that Daliyah West, Ronald Guillory, Courtney Thomas, and Ro’mond C. Bruno drove to the home of West’s ex-boyfriend, so that Ronald Guillory could fight with him. Deputies allege that two of the suspects, Ronald Guillory and Ro’Mond Bruno exited the vehicle and each brandished a pistol.
Multiple shots were fired in the direction of the ex-boyfriend and another bystander, striking them. Deputies allege that Guillory and Bruno then re-entered the vehicle and began to drive away. Thomas who was also inside the vehicle, allegedly took one of the guns and fired several shots while they were fleeing, deputies say.
When the suspects noticed deputies pursing them, Bruno allegedly exited the vehicle evading capture. Bruno was later located and brought into the sheriff’s office by his mother, deputies say.
Investigators later discovered that there was a woman and her two year old child standing outside the home when the shooting began; she was pushed to safety by the bystander prior to him being shot. The bystander was shot in the abdomen area while the ex-boyfriend sustained a gunshot to the neck.
Both are listed in stable condition in an area hospital.
“It could have been prevented. This shouldn’t have happened,” Tony Kennerson said.
Kennerson says West lived at his home, until just a few weeks ago. Kennerson says after West got kicked out of the house, she began threatening him and his family. He says at first, deputies stepped up patrols near his home. However, Kennerson says they later stopped.
“They have been patrolling, but all of sudden in the last 3 weeks, it’s nothing from them,” Kennerson said. “St. Landry parish could’ve done a better job than what they done. It gave them an opportunity and an open window to come attack my family.”
Deputies had been to the house before. According to Sheriff Bobby Guidroz, a deputy went with west to the home in September after he says Kennerson wouldn’t release her personal belongings.
In an email, Guidroz said Kennerson’s claim that deputies weren’t patrolling his street are false.
Still, Kennerson feels the sheriff’s office could have done more to protect him and his family.
“They didn’t take this seriously they could’ve locked her up and prevent all this from happening.”
Daliyah West, 20, of Opelousas, was booked with accessory after the fact to attempted 1st degree murder
Courtney Thomas, 27, of Opelousas, was booked with principal to attempted 1st degree murder, illegal use of weapons, possession of firearm by a felon
Ro’mond C. Bruno, 17, of Opelousas, was booked with four counts attempted 1st degree murder, illegal use of weapons
Ronald Guillory, 29, of Opelousas, was booked with four counts attempted 1st degree murder, possession of firearm by a felon
