JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Hidden in trees behind Shrewsbury Road, what was once a homeless encampment is now a crime scene.
"Back there you would never have known it existed unless you were two feet on it,” Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto.
Two women and one man are dead after deputies say they were shot multiple times sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
"Back behind me, you can see a tree area, with a homeless encampment, which you can see with a couple of makeshift tents. We have three victims back there,” Lopinto said.
While law enforcement is still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger and why, there has been a long history of violence against this vulnerable population.
Between 2000 and 2018, there were more than 1,700 acts of violence towards homeless individuals nationally.
Nearly 500 of those were deadly, according to a study by the National Coalition for the Homeless
In that report, the group said, “Hate crimes are committed against a group of vulnerable people who are at constant risk because they live in public spaces. Many communities do not have adequate shelter or housing to meet their needs.”
Jefferson Parish says they’re addressing those needs.
“We are going to continue to make sure that we're talking about these issues and bringing the resources we can to the table to try to make sure we do not have a growing population in Jefferson but can get people help and help them turn their lives around,” Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vracken.
Now, the council is forming a Homelessness Task Force.
“I had a heart for the homeless population and always have,” Jefferson Parish Homelessness Task Force member Kirt Talamo said.
As a new member of the task force, Talamo believes the homeless community has one immediate need.
“First of all, I think they need shelter. They need a home base. From there, they can have an anchor to ultimately move forward for a potential job position,” Talamo said.
The Jefferson Parish Homelessness Task Force will hold its very first meeting Thursday, Apr. 4, with hopes to prevent more loss of life.
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