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St. Landry Sheriff believes recent shootings are gang-related

Posted at 5:33 PM, Jan 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-27 20:02:10-05

Gang activity is what St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says is behind several shootings this month in St. Landry and Avoyelles parishes.

Those shootings have left at least three people dead. Several agencies are working to connect the dots.

"Things that we're looking at right now involves a lot of people," Guidroz said. "Two rival gangs for sure. Probably in the last 3 years, we've had six or seven shootings. Are they connected? We're working on that right now," Guidroz said.

Guidroz's department is sharing information with agencies in Avoyelle's Parish as they investigate.

"Some of the names correspond with each other and detectives are working very closely together to make a connection," Guidroz said.

He says the issue they're facing now is people not coming forward with information. No arrests have been made yet on any of the three shootings. While the investigations are ongoing, Guidroz says shootings aren't the only issue they're facing.

"Trying to figure out what the motives are," Guidroz said. "We do know, to fuel their expenses for these crimes, they're committing criminal activities. There are shootings, robberies and thefts. That's what they're getting their money from."