An Elmer man was arrested Tuesday after the shooting death earlier this month of an off-duty Rapides Parish Sheriff's deputy.
Victor Paul Bellino, 51, of the 50 block of Vanasselberg Road, was arrested by sheriff's detectives on a charge of second-degree murder. The jail website does not reflect his booking information as of 3:30 p.m.
Bellino had been hospitalized since the May 15 incident in the 100 block of Oscar Branch Road in the Gardner community. According to an earlier release, the sheriff's office had a report about a disturbance and then both men shot each other.
Deputy Mark Lewis, 40, died at the scene. Sheriff Mark Wood called it a "terrible tragedy" for people in the community and his department.