2 men shot, 1 dies

A New Iberia teenager was arrested Sunday after investigators said he shot two men who gave him a ride, killing one of them.

Jawaan Chevalier, 17, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.

He was booked into the Iberia Parish Jail without bond.

Iberia Parish Coroner Dr. James Falterman Sr. said Chevalier was riding with Kenneth Lewis, 43, of Jeanerette, and Grant Reno, 42, of New Iberia, early Sunday morning when both men were shot.

Falterman said Lewis was shot in the head. Reno was grazed by a bullet and suffered minor injuries, Falterman said. He was treated at Iberia Medical Center and released Sunday morning.

According to a press release from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the shooting occurred at 4:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of Spencer Loop in the western side of the city.

Deputies responded to the area after Reno went to a nearby residence saying he and his friend had been shot.

Deputies found Lewis’ truck parked in the middle of Spencer Loop. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.

The press release said detectives identified Chevalier as a suspect through their investigation. He was taken into custody just after 7 a.m.

The press release said the motive for the shooting is under investigation.

The shooting is the fourth homicide of the year in New Iberia and the third in the past 20 days.

The city of New Iberia had no homicides in 2007.