Eight suspected gang members arrested in Terrebonne investigation
Eight suspected gang members were arrested and four remain at large in connection with a series of recent Houma shootings, authorities said in a Thursday press conference.
Members of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Gang Investigation Team, or GIT, launched an investigation into alleged criminal gang activity following a fatal shooting at a Houma Sonic drive-in July 19 that claimed the life of a 21-year-old Schriever man, Sheriff Tim Soignet said.
Soignet said he formed GIT with members of the Sheriff s Office Detective Bureau and Narcotics Division to quell the spike in violence.
Terrebonne Parish leaders announce arrests, indictments in multi-year investigation into street gangs Share Updated: 1:11 PM CST Dec 10, 2020 WDSU Digital Team Share Updated: 1:11 PM CST Dec 10, 2020
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Show Transcript TERREBONNE PARISH. DEPUTIES ARE GIVING US MORE DETAILS ABOUT OPERATION SILENT NIGHT. IT’S AN EFFORT BEING MADE BY SEVERAL AGENCIES TO ADDRESS GANG VIOLENCE. SHERIFF TIM SOIGNET SAYS THEY’VE NOTICED A CONNECTION IN CRIMES EARLIER THIS YEAR INVOLVING THE SAME PEOPLE. HE SAYS THIS IS ALL RETAILIATION AND IT’S PUTTING INNOCENT PEOPLE IN DANGER. IT IS NOT GOING TO END WELL FOR YOU. IT’S NOT GOING TO END WELL FOR THESE YOUNG MEN THAT GOT INVOLVED YOUNG. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TALK TO YOUR PARENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO RAISE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THEIR ADVICE. WITH OPERATION SILENT NIGHT, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS IT HOPES TO END
“These individuals chose to tell their story through violence in broad daylight,” Sheriff Soignet said. Author: WWL Staff Updated: 6:15 PM CST December 10, 2020
TERREBONNE PARISH, La. Eight people are in custody following an investigation in a violent street gang in Terrebonne Parish, Sheriff Tim Soignet announced on Thursday.
Soignet said the arrests are a culmination of work by the newly formed TPSO Gang Investigation Team that was created after a shooting at a Sonic on July 19, 2020. The sheriff said saw first hand that multiple shootings involved the same group of individuals when he was a uniform commander before becoming sheriff.
The gang unit team, incorporating members of the detective bureau and narcotics division, began identifying key members of the “Bag Chasin’ Babies”, which also identified as the “Schriever Gorillas.” Sheriff Soignet said the gang was connected to multiple shootings throughout Terrebonne Parish.