Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said Friday that the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward of $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest of whoever was responsible for the recent multiple shootings in Mt. Hermon.

“As soon as the Sheriff’s Office received the early morning call about gunfire in the Mt. Hermon community, our patrol deputies responded immediately,” said Seal, in a statement provided to local media. “Detectives and drug task force agents were called out and responded as quickly as they could get there from throughout the parish. In addition, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents were on the scene and assisted in the search.

“Our fine officers saturated the area, interviewing victims and searching for any clues which might lead them to the shooters. DNA was collected from spent shell casings and has been submitted to the crime lab for analysis. As leads come in, each is thoroughly investigated. Our officers have worked diligently and tirelessly since the initial reports came in, and they will continue to work throughout the weekend, into next week and as long as necessary until this senseless crime is solved. You may be assured that the full resources of the Sheriff’s Office have been dedicated to this matter.

“Unlike the 30- or 60-minute crime investigations seen on television, an actual investigation is very detailed and time consuming. Any investigation must be done in a thorough and precise manner so that charges brought against any individual(s) will withstand the scrutiny of the courts. The goal of any investigation is to develop evidence and make arrests that will result in convictions.

“The gunfire did not target any particular person(s) or ethnic group or economic status and does not, at this time, qualify as a federal crime. From all accounts, it was a random act committed by reckless individuals who have no regard for the safety of anyone.
“You may be assured that your Sheriff’s Office is “pulling out all stops” to solve this crime on behalf of the fine citizens of the Mt. Hermon community. Meanwhile, if anyone has any information which may lead to the identification of the shooter(s), please call (985) 839-3434, which is our main dispatch number, or call Lt. Tom Anderson direct at (985) 661-2024. Any bit of information, no matter how small, will be investigated and may be the key to solving this crime.

“As an added incentive for help from the public, I am offering a $2,500 reward for information which leads to the identification and arrest of the person(s) who committed this crime. The tipster will remain anonymous.”