Woman Survives Shooting

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The violence continues, as many are asking, when will it stop? Will people step away, or can they, when passions become inflamed to the point where a violent solution is all that an individual sees? That seems to be the only answer for some, as another shooting incident rocks the community. This time, it came from Forrest Street, where Monroe Police Department (MPD) officers raced to a call of a discharged firearm on Saturday, March 15, 2023. When officers responded to the scene, a witness alerted them that an alleged suspect, identified as Paul Wilson, was hiding in the rear of a building. According to police, officers made contact with Wilson soon after. Wilson told officers that he and his girlfriend got into an argument. Officers say that Wilson told them that he pointed a gun at the victim and shot her. Wilson said that he didn't mean to shoot her. Officers then spoke to the unidentified female victim, saying that Wilson did point the gun at her head and shot the gun. The victim also said that after she was shot, she lay on the ground thinking that she was dead. The incident report did not cite the victim's condition or whether she was transported to an area hospital. Wilson was placed under arrest, as he was handcuffed and transported to Ouachita Correctional Center (OCC). While at OCC, Ouachita Parish Sheriff's office personnel found a bag filled with what appeared to be crack cocaine in his pants pocket. Wilson was charged with one count of Attempted Second-Degree Murder and one count of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. There is a B.A.L.M. in Monroe, a Spiritual solution to a social problem. A B.A.L.M. 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. Praise God for law enforcement! There are three sides to every story. This was one side of this story. The Monroe Dispatch welcomes the other or another side of this story.