2 men rob Ferriday store owner

Published 12:14 am Tuesday, May 7, 2013

FERRIDAY — One Ferriday man is behind bars and another was being pursued Monday in connection to an alleged armed robbery and attempted first-degree murder.

Defonte R. Leonard, 20, 300 Tennessee Ave., was arrested and charged with armed robbery and attempted first-degree murder.

Arrest warrants were issued Monday for Jessie M. Green Jr., 19, of Ferriday, on the same charges.

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Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy David Hedrick said deputies responded to a call of an armed robbery at 3:18 a.m. Monday at K.J.’s Daiquiris in Ferriday.

Hedrick said statements from witnesses and the victim claimed two males entered the business and demanded the owner give them all their money.

“When the owner said he didn’t have any money, he claims the subjects knocked him down on the ground and shot at him,” Hedrick said. “The subjects continued to hit the victim and then fled the scene.”

The business owner was transported to Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday, where he was treated for severe lacerations to his head consistent with being struck with a pistol or other gun, Hedrick said.

“The owner knew the subjects from previous times they had been in there and gave us information about the case to make an arrest,” Hedrick said. “The case is still under investigation.”

No bond had been set for Leonard as of late Monday.