Apartment Shooting

The country (Monroe and West Monroe, LA) used to be a great place to live. Life was considered to be slow and easy in our area, where people often bragged that they could get anywhere in 15 minutes or even leave their homes unlocked without fear of an intrusion. With the change in times, much has changed, including the safety of the area. Safety has certainly dissipated as younger generations show a lack of respect for life. Without love, life takes on a different meaning. This may be the reason for the shootings that are now occurring more frequently. According to police reports, on May 30, 2021, gunfire was reported at a West Monroe apartment complex on Arkansas Rd. Witnesses reported suspect Maurice Derrick ran into an apartment shooting multiple rounds. West Monroe police also observed more gunshots when they arrived on the scene. Victims and witnesses told police that the suspect shot numerous times in their direction. Two victims suffered grazing gunshot wounds. The suspect was captured and taken into custody. Empty ammunition rounds were found on the ground and in the stairway leading to an apartment where Derrick was found. He denied shooting or having a gun. A resident of the apartment told police there was a firearm in the apartment. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant, and a Taurus gun was located in a closet behind a water heater. The firearm had one live round in the chamber of the magazine. The firearm bullet was a sig 9mm, which was the same as the empty ammunition rounds found on the ground outside the apartment. The suspect was booked on two counts of attempted second-degree murder. There are three sides to every story. This was one side of this story. The Monroe Dispatch welcomes another or the other side of this story.