Monroe Crime, Gunfire Escalates

Violent acts continue in the Monroe area, as the Monroe Police Department (MPD) reports that a police car unit was struck with gunfire around 2:00 AM, Sunday, March 27, 2022. Police say that a vehicle driven by the alleged suspect. Police apprehended the alleged driver of a Nissan Altima as Xavian Bilton. Four shots were fired at a marked police unit on Martin Luther King, Jr. service road. A high-speed chase ensued, reaching up to 70mph, according to MPD. The vehicle reached the Booker T neighborhood as officers continued the pursuit. The driver allegedly didn't stop at Powell Ave. and Fir St. but sped away.

Officers with their lights flashing finally stopped the vehicle on Booker St. Police say Bilton was not alone in the vehicle, as three other individuals, Kilarrious Owens, Jamari Deburr, and Rayshawn Hollins, were also taken into custody. Officers claimed that there was a distinct odor of marijuana in the vehicle; a search was conducted where drugs and several handguns were found, one of which was said to be stolen. Bilton allegedly admitted to having the marijuana. Owens and Deburr were booked on charges of Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms and Possession of a Controlled Substance, Schedule 1. Hollins was booked on a charge of Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms. None of them admitted to possessing the firearms concerning the incident. They were transported to the Ouachita Correctional Center. Shots were fired at apartment complex in another incident involving gunfire. Monroe Police say that multiple gunshots were fired at an apartment complex in the city Thursday night, March 24, 2022 on Peach St. The alleged shooter was identified as Keythandrious Kamari Reed, 23, who police say was connected to the shooting, was soon apprehended, and taken into custody. According to reports, police said that about 17 rounds were fired at the complex, with several of them hitting the building and injuring a tenant. Police say that Reed was in a black vehicle with other individuals when the shooting occurred. Police allege that Reed was the driver of the vehicle, but that Reed said that he was unaware that someone was going to shoot at the building. As of press time, police have not given a motive for the shooting, and no other arrests have been made. Reed was taken to Ouachita Correctional Center(OCC) and charged with Assault of Drive-By Shooting. In another incident related to violence, a local man had to be air-lifted to Shreveport, LA, after police said another man violently attacked him. Police say that the unidentified man was struck repeatedly with a 2 x 4 piece of wood to the point of unconsciousness. The incident alleged happened Friday, March 25, 2022 on Owl St. in the Booker T. neighborhood that morning. According to the police, Maurice O. Archie allegedly drove around looking for the victim. Archie allegedly traveled to several locations, searching for the victim before locating him. Police alleged that when Archie saw his alleged target, he jumped out of his vehicle and attacked the individual. A witness who saw the attack said that Archie allegedly used the 2x4 in the attack. As of press time, there was no information about who the victim was and the motive for the attack; the victim's condition is also currently unknown. 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. There is a BALM in Monroe is a spiritual solution to a social problem. A BALM in Monroe is a collaborative plan that every citizen, elected and appointed official, clergyman, and organization can participate in to help improve the image of Monroe while inspiring at-risk males to take more responsibility for their actions and respect the lives of others. A Balanced Approach to Lower the violent crime and Murder rate in Monroe, LA.

Photo Keythandrious K. Reed

Photo Maurice O. Archie

Photo Jamari Deburr

Photo Xavian Bilton

Photo Kilarrious Owens