A suspect has been arrested after the shooting of an Opelousas convenience store employee.
The incident took place Wednesday, April 1, 2020, around 9:00 pm at the Valero Station in the 500 block of E. Landry Street.
The shooting occurred after the suspect pleaded with a worker in the store to let him in to use the phone, according to Major Mark Guidry, spokesperson for the Opelousas Police Dept. The worker told the suspect that the store was closed repeatedly and at some point opened the door to tell the suspect that he had to leave the property. The suspect then allegedly attacked the store worker and they were involved in a brief physical confrontation. During the altercation the suspect, Demarcus Jones, produced a handgun and fired the weapon striking the store employee one time in the arm.
Patrol officers immediately responded and located Jones in the area. While taking the suspect into custody several types of narcotics was found in his possession, stated Guidry. The injury suffered by the store employee was non life threatening.
Demarcus Jones, 28, of Opelousas, was taken into custody Wednesday night and booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on the following charges:
- Attempted second degree murder
- Simple battery
- Resisting an officer
- Possession of schedule I with intent to distribute
- Possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS
- Carrying of firearm by convicted felon
- Criminal damage to property
- Proclamation of state of emergency (curfew violation)
