On Monday afternoon at the FMT Shipyard in Harvey, Louisiana, a former employee opened fire. This resulted in the deaths of two coworkers. The suspect, who had been terminated within the past week, arrived unannounced and targeted individuals from his crew. The situation escalated further when the suspect’s mother drove him to a nearby apartment complex, where he was ultimately shot and killed by deputies. This devastating event has left the community in shock and mourning.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto confirmed that the shooting occurred around 1 p.m. at the FMT Shipyard. The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Willis Thomas Jr. by the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office. He allegedly called his mother after the shooting, who then picked him up at the shipyard. They proceeded to the St. Germain Apartment Complex on Manhattan Boulevard, where a confrontation with deputies ensued. The suspect opened fire near a dumpster. This prompted the deputies to return fire, resulting in his death.
The victims of this senseless act of violence have been identified as Nakie James Brown, 48, and Dustin Parrie Jr., 20, both residents of Harvey, Louisiana. The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s office confirmed that both victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds, with some shots fired from behind, indicating an attempt to flee. Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, the coroner, revealed that the victims were shot between 5 and 10 times each. They suffered from injuries to their arms, legs, torsos, and one victim sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.
The FMT Shipyard released a statement expressing their condolences to the victims and their families. The company acknowledged the tragic shooting incident involving one shooter and two victims among their contract workers. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the events leading up to this tragedy.