Lafayette, La- Lafayette Police Department has reported five shootings in Lafayette in the past week, all involving teenagers. One resident says he is terrified to leave his own home these days.
Not long after we reported about the shooting on Surrey Street, we heard about another shooting involving two teenage girls shot at Moore Park. As the summer gets closer, residents hope the gun violence decreases.
With one shooting happening in a neighborhood to another 6 miles away at a park filled with families, it's been a tough week in Lafayette.
" POW..POW..POW... DRIVE-BY."
One resident on Surrey Street who wished to be anonymous understands crime happens, but it's becoming excessive. "I mean rapid fires, all pistols. I'm in bed. I get in the floor.
In the past 48 hours, all shootings involved teenagers, the most recent one involved two girls, seventeen and eighteen year old, who was injured at Moore Park, filled with families.
Lafayette Police Information Officer Senior Corporal Matthew Benoit encourages parents to always know where their children are. "Just to stay involved, know what your children are doing, know who they are hanging out with, know where they are going. Just stay involved and talk to them."
Benoit wants the community to know they are constantly patrolling all areas. " Our patrol division that's their primary function. They respond to calls for service. However, when they are not responding to calls of service, they are patrolling parks and neighborhoods. We are going to do everything we can to keep the citizens of Lafayette safe.
As far as solving the crimes, Benoit says it's a team effort urging the community to speak up, saying it could help solve the investigation faster. "Anyone in the community with information, if you know something is going on. It's always going to be great to have that additional information. Anything the community can do as a whole to help us and be a part of what we do as well, we encourage that."
The anonymous resident says his only request is to feel safe in his neighborhood. Lafayette Police are asking the community if you know something, say something.
No arrests have been made in the Moore or Surrey Street Shooting. If you have any information, call Lafayette Parish Crimestoppers at 337-232-TIPS.
