Multiple arrests made in connection to Ascension Parish gun store burglary

PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (WAFB) - Two men have been arrested in connection to a burglary investigation in Ascension Parish.

The U.S. Marshals Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force, with the help of the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, located and arrested Darrel A. Morris Jr., 22, of Convent, at a housing complex along Highland Road in Baton Rouge around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8. The St. Charles Sheriff’s Office helped find and arrest Quendell Jones, 18, of Convent, at an apartment on Ormond Boulevard in Destrehan on Monday, Aug. 7.

According to law enforcement, Morris Jr. and Jones were wanted on several charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the burglary of Hebert’s Guns on Airline Highway in Prairieville Monday, July 31.

Officials said Morris was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, and he will be transported to the Ascension Parish Jail on the following charges: simple burglary, 20 counts of theft of a firearm, 20 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony damage to property, and criminal street gangs, and activities and patterns of criminal street gang activities.

Officials said Jones was booked into the St. Charles Parish Jail, and he will be transported to the Ascension Parish Jail on the following charges: simple burglary, 20 counts of theft of a firearm, and felony damage to property.

Detectives with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation.

According to investigators, five men crashed a stolen Ford truck through the entry of Hebert’s Guns firearm store around 4:20 a.m. Deputies said there was extensive damage to the exterior and interior of the building.

“They tried to take a rope and pull open the door that didn’t work so they took the Ford and backed into the building, knocking the door out,” Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre explained.

The five masked thieves then jumped out of the truck and made their way inside the store.

From surveillance video, it appears each man has a pre-planned spot to go, some of them smashing glass cases for the merchandise inside.

Sheriff Webre says within two minutes of the thieves being inside several handguns and long guns were stolen.

“You can see by the way they got out of the truck this was not their first burglary. I hope it is their last one. They knew they needed to get in and out as fast as they could,” added Webre.

The fear now is where these weapons will end up.

“I am not afraid of guns being in the hands of law-abiding citizens. These are not law-abiding citizens. They will use them themselves or sell them. Most guns used in crimes are stolen guns,” Webre continued.

Anyone with information that can assist detectives is urged to call the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office anonymously at 225-621-4636 or contact Crime Stoppers at 344-STOP (7867).

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