NEW ORLEANS — A young member of the Mardi Gras Indians was shot and killed in Baton Rouge. The Indian community says they're hurting from the loss.
Bo Dollis says he was shocked to learn that one of his fellow Indians was shot and killed Friday night.
"You know with Indians we all stick together," Dollis said. “With Casby being a person of the community, of his neighborhood. It's hard to see it being so close to home.”
Hankton a member of the Mardi Gras Indians was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Big Chief Tyrone Casby of the Mohawk Hunters.
“I think with the Indian community it's going to impact because I don’t know how he is going to feel right now,” Dollis said.
He says Casby is one of the oldest chiefs in the city, and that the entire Indian community is holding the Hankton family in their thoughts.
“We might all be in competition with each other on Mardi Gras day, but when it comes to things like this we all stick together,” Dollis said.
Of the shooting and a recent rise in violent crimes, Dollis says more resources need to be made available for young people.
“Just different stuff for the community to get them off the street, show them there is other things you can do.”
He says the bloodshed needs to stop after saying goodbye to too many fellow Indians.
“They want to learn how to sew and they would probably jump up and learn how to sew. They might be the next big chief out there…That’s what we be trying to do.”
Hankton wasn't the only one shot Friday night, an 18-year-old man was injured, but he's stable.
The two men were standing in the parking lot of the complex when they were struck.