WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Teen remains hospitalized after concert shooting

Teen remains hospitalized after concert shooting

By Tyana Williams - bio | email

NEW ROADS, LA (WAFB) - The sheriff in Pointe Coupee says he's about to tighten the rules on people holding concerts around the New Roads area. Tuesday night, a 13-year-old was shot at a rap concert just outside the city. She was in guarded, but stable condition Wednesday night.  The family says a bullet hit Jerriell Edwards in her lower back. By the time it was done, authorities say that bullet traveled through one lung and out the other.

According to flyers, the concert was supposed to be a pre-Thanksgiving basketball bash. Featuring rap groups from New Orleans and New Roads. The Pointe Coupee Sheriff's Office says between 200 to 250 people crammed into the Woodmen of the World building Tuesday night.  Hundreds of people, but no security.

"One of the groups who was participating in the concert had a run in with some of the local people here in Pointe Coupee Parish. A fight ensued, after that a gun was involved," says Sheriff Bud Torres. He says several shots were fired into the crowd. Two girls were shot. One was treated and released from Pointe Coupee General Hospital. The other victim, 13-year-old Jerriell Edwards is still at a local hospital.

"She was shot with a .45, with a 45 caliber. Now you tell me how a 13-year-old can handle that," says the girls cousin, Tracey Edwards. She says concerts at the Woodmen need to be stopped, if whoever gave it can't control it. "If they not fighting over there, they shooting. My cousin is laying in the hospital bed. She had surgery at 4 o'clock this morning. And come to find out she had to have surgery again because she was bleeding inside of her chest."

Sheriff Torres says they do have a person of interest. He says his office has dealt with fights at these parties before. Now he wants to know why a 13-year-old was allowed to attend. "There's a lot of things that go on at these concerts that disturbs me."

As for who shot her cousin, Edwards says, "They need to be crucified."

Sheriff Torres says the organizers hold these parties outside city limits, so they don't have to play by the rules.  Like not having security guards.  He says at Tuesday's police jury meeting he plans to ask jurors to make security mandatory if hundreds of people attend an event.

Copyright 2009 WAFB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.