Two more arrests from Wardville shooting incident at Lee Ray's

Devon Andrew Thomas, the suspect authorities had been searching for in connection with the shooting at Lee Ray's in Wardville, has been arrested, along with another suspect who was being treated at a local hospital.

On November 15, deputies and detectives responded to Lee Ray’s convenience store in Wardville in reference to an attempted armed robbery. According to the victim, three suspects entered the convenience store located at 902 Bayou Marie Road, in an apparent attempt to commit an armed robbery. Once in the store, one of the suspects brandished a weapon and started ordering the customers to the back of the store.

At that time, the clerk armed himself and fired at the suspects, striking one suspect in the abdomen and another suspect in the arm. All three suspects then fled the store.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they located one suspect, later identified as nineteen-year-old Johnathan Jones of Alexandria, at a residence on Wayne Street with an abdominal gunshot wound.

Jones was later transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries and listed in critical condition. While detectives were at the hospital conducting their investigation, a sixteen-year-old came to the emergency department with a gunshot wound to the left arm, consistent with what was reported by the victim. Though the sixteen-year-old was a suspect, detectives did not have sufficient probable cause at the time to arrest the juvenile. The sixteen-year-old was treated and released to his parents.

Through their continued investigation, detectives establish sufficient probable, which lead to the sixteen-year-old’s arrest on November 08. The juvenile was charged with attempted armed robbery, possession of a handgun by a juvenile, criminal conspiracy, attempted first-degree murder, and warrants for contempt of court on an aggravated burglary charge and battery on a correctional officer. The juvenile is currently being detained in lockdown at the Renaissance Home for Youth. Detectives have been working with the Rapides District Attorney’s Office in taking steps to charge this juvenile as an adult.

Detectives obtained warrants for Johnathan Jones’ arrest, while he was being treated at a local area hospital. On November 10, Jones was released from the hospital, at which time he was taken into custody without incident. Jones was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center in reference to Armed Robbery, attempted first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He is currently being detained at the Detention Center in lieu of posting a $610,000 Bond.

During their investigation Detectives also identified twenty-three-year-old Devon Andrew Thomas of Alexandria, as the third suspect. Warrants were granted for Thomas’ arrest in reference to armed robbery, attempted first-degree murder, carrying of firearm by convicted felon, criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

On November 16, while conducting an unrelated investigation, officers with the Pineville Police Department came into contact with Thomas at a residence in the Wardville area. Thomas was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center in reference to his warrants. Thomas is currently being detained at the Detention Center and bonds have not been set in reference to his charges.

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