ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. — St. John the Baptist Sheriff, Michael Tregre, said that 16-year-old Aariah Henry was killed early Sunday morning in a drive by shooting.
It happened around 2AM on Airline Highway in Reserve near Guidry's Goody's. The owner, Tiffany Guidry, said thankfully it was well past closing time.
"A little scary. A little too close to home for myself," Guidry said, "Thank God, Amen, that the business was closed. We've been very fortunate here. You know, in 39 years we've not had much trouble."
The Sheriff's Office posted a video on social media Sunday afternoon that shows two cars traveling northbound on Airline. At least four gunshots were fired. At least one of the gunshots struck Henry who was taken to a nearby hospital and died, Tregre said.
"She deserves justice. We strongly, and are almost positive to believe, that she was not the intended target," Tregre said.
The sheriff said Henry was a 10th grader at East St. John High School.
Five others were in the car with Henry at the time, and three of them refused to talk to investigators, Tregre said.
"Which makes me believe even more she was not the intended target," Tregre said.
Tregre said the shooter's car was a 2015 Grey Kia Optima that was later found abandoned in Garyville.
"We have the crime scene, we have the vehicle, what I do not have are the perpetrators," Tregre said, "We know that that car was stolen out of New Orleans since March. Someone has been riding around in that car in our community. Someone can give us a call and tell us who has been riding around in it."
The sheriff is urging anyone with information to call Captain Brandon Barlow of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 504-494-2674.
Meanwhile, the community is holding Henry and her family close to their hearts.
"Let's just hope whoever did it gets their justice and prayers for the families involved," Guidry said.
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