Hunt still on for shooting suspect

As of midday Monday, Ruston police were still searching for the suspect in a Sunday shooting that left a Grambling man dead.

Jeffery D. Early died of a gunshot wound apparently sustained during a party at the Norton Building on West Mississippi Avenue in downtown Ruston.

Details of the incident were still sketchy Monday morning.

Officers were called to the venue at approximately 12:08 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a person having been shot.

Police arrived to find “alarge,chaotic crowd” trying to exit the building, said RPD Deputy Police Chief Clint Williams in a press release. Officers located a black male who appeared to have been shot, he said.

The victim, Early, was transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center but died of his injuries.

The investigation is active and ongoing, Williams said.

He said police have no information linking the downtown incident to two other reports of gunshots shortly afterward. Police received calls of alleged shots fired in the area of North Bonner and East Florida streets, and later near Lexington Street.

Detectives ask that anyone with information about the party venue shooting contact the Ruston Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 255-4141 or Crimestoppers of Lincoln Parish.

Crimestoppers information can be given in several ways: either by calling 255-1111 or text a top to “TIP515 plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) or submit a tip online at rustonlincolcrimestoppers.com .