Holly MatkinHammond, LA – At least two gunmen opened fire outside a high school graduation ceremony on Thursday night, wounding three people in an attack police said may have been gang-related.
The shooting occurred outside Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) University Center as hundreds of people were leaving the Hammond High School graduation ceremony shortly after 8 p.m. on May 19, WWL reported.
Investigators said a suspect and a juvenile got into a confrontation outside the venue just before gunfire erupted.
They said they believe there were at least two shooters and said the incident may have been gang related, WWL reported.
At least 10 shots were fired.
Three people were shot and a fourth was injured while trying to flee to safety, according to police.
Investigators said the wounded victims were all innocent bystanders who had nothing to do with the initial confrontation, WWL reported.
⚠️🇺🇸#DEVELOPING: Shooting reported at graduation ceremony in Hammond, Louisiana#Hammond l #LA
Police have responded to a shooting at Southeastern University, where a high school graduation was underway. At least three students are shot.
More information to follow. pic.twitter.com/Wz9IIM9dNK— Intel Point ALERT (@IntelPointAlert) May 20, 2022
Two of the three people who were shot had been released from the hospital as of Friday morning, Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron told reporters during a press conference.
The remaining hospitalized victim was in stable condition, WWL reported.
“We were fortunate that some of the people at the graduation were law enforcement and medical people who began to give aid,” Chief Bergeron noted.
Law enforcement agencies tell us the shooting happened just as people were exiting the UC building following Hammond High School’s graduation. Officials say no juveniles were injured. The name of the person in custody has not yet been released. Stay with @wdsu for the latest pic.twitter.com/912h7z0SbV
— Shay O'Connor (@SOCONNORNEWS) May 20, 2022
Police tracked down one of the alleged shooters within minutes of the attack, WWL reported.
He has been identified as 20-year-old Trent Thomas.
A 20-year-old has been arrested for firing at least 10 shots outside the Hammond High (LA) graduation last night. 3 people shot were all bystanders. Shooting was an argument that escalated.
Trent Thomas is charged with 3 counts of attempted murder. pic.twitter.com/TkgQvNVkyF
— K-12 School Shooting Database (@K12ssdb) May 20, 2022
Thomas was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on three counts of attempted second-degree murder, possession of firearm on a gun-free campus, aggravated damage to property, and obstruction of justice, WAFB reported.
Police said additional arrests are likely.
“This is supposed to be a day where everybody is happy, where families are proud of their kids,” SLU Police Chief Michael Beckner told WWL. “They don’t have that memory of the joyous occasion. They have the memory of people running and shots being fired in the parking lot.”
BREAKING: Southeastern PD, Hammond PD along with other law enforcement agencies investigating a shooting where at least four people were injured on Southeastern University’s campus. One person is now in custody. The campus has since been given the “all clear.” @wdsu pic.twitter.com/B9hEOx0CUA
— Shay O'Connor (@SOCONNORNEWS) May 20, 2022
Tangipahoa Parish Schools Superintendent Melissa Stilley agreed, noting that it was “sad that it ended” in such a “violent way,” WWL reported.
“We want justice to be served in this situation,” Stilley said. “Graduation is a very special time for our seniors and families.”
