9/22/2021- 5:51 p.m.
Four Fort Polk soldiers were arrested aftera suspected gang-related shooting in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, late Monday night, according to local law enforcement.
The DeRidder Police Department and the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a joint statement detailing the alleged Sept. 20 shooting, in which one person was injured while escaping gunfire.
Pfc. Quazier T. Watterson, 19; Pfc. Trevian J. Cherry, 23; Spc. Joshua D. Galloway VI, 24; and Pfc. Tavon M. Williams, 19, were arrested for criminal conspiracy to commit attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault with a firearm, illegal use of weapons or other dangerous instrumentalities, and aggravated criminal damage to property.
All four soldiers are assigned to 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Polk, according to post spokesperson Shelby Waryas.
Police responded to reports of shots fired in DeRidder at about 11:25 p.m. Monday. By the time officers arrived on the scene, the suspects were no longer there, the sheriff’s office and police said in their statement.
Police are looking into whether the incident may be gang-related, as another shooting took place at the same location on Sept. 11.
“Detectives believe last night’s shooting is related to the recent activity from the so-called gangs after they arrested two more juveniles in Leesville,” the sheriff’s office and police said.
A witness helped authorities identify the suspects’ vehicle, which was later found in nearby Leesville, according to the statement.
Five weapons were found in the vehicle, along with shell casings that matched those at the scene, the statement added.
