Closer and Closer to Home

Below I have copied an article from The Times Picayune. A 26 year old man was shot in Hahnville, LA over an apparent drug deal gone bad. I don't know about anyone else, but this is getting a little too close to home for me. This happened in broad daylight. What if someone was going home from work and got caught by a bullet, or got hit by this animal driving erratically trying to get away? The crime is ridiculous and senseless. It's not just New Orleans anymore, it's everywhere.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008
By Matt Scallan

A Hahnville man who was shot and killed Monday afternoon was participating in a drug rip-off of 2 ounces of marijuana with a street value of about $300 or $400, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office.

Edd Raymond, 26, who has addresses in Hahnville and Boutte, was shot several times, including once in the head, Monday afternoon. Police say he helped steal the marijuana from a drug dealer who had driven from New Orleans to Hahnville to make the sale.

Raymond's death is the fourth homicide in St. Charles Parish this year.

The suspected dealer, Harry Carraby, broke into an apartment at 172 Keller St. to retrieve the drugs, which had been stolen from his truck, Sheriff Greg Champagne said Tuesday.

Raymond and Jy'Vohn Harris and Dejae Smith, both 19-year-old Hahnville residents, stole 2 ounces of marijuana from Carraby, Champagne said.

Harris is in custody, and Smith is wanted on charges of attempted first-degree murder -- in connection with shots fired at Carraby as he fled -- principal to homicide and robbery.

"These were three guys who apparently wanted to buy weed, and decided to steal it instead of paying for it," Champagne said.

Deputies initially booked Harris, who lives in the apartment where Raymond was killed, with armed robbery. They later booked him with simple escape after he tried to flee deputies while using the restroom in the office where he was being interrogated, according to authorities.
Carraby, 28, of 1805 Peniston St., New Orleans, was arrested shortly after the shooting after trying to flee the area, police say.

Carraby was booked with murder in connection with Raymond's death.

Champagne said Carraby went to the Keller Street complex and arranged to meet one of the men in the backyard of the apartment to finalize the transaction. Meanwhile, another man went out to Carraby's white Ford F-150 pickup truck and stole the marijuana. When Carraby discovered the theft, police say, he broke into the apartment through the back window and shot Raymond during a confrontation in which he retrieved the drugs and fled, under fire from at least one of the two survivors.

Deputies discovered bullet holes in the truck when Carraby was captured.

Maj. Sam Zinna, chief of investigations, praised residents in the area who quickly called police once the shooting began.

"We had several calls while this was going on," Zinna said. "One lady called because (Carraby) was driving recklessly on River Road."