Innocent Gas Station Victim
Louisiana Police Say Innocent Woman Killed in Gas Station Shooting After 80 Shots Fired
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Patricia Sheppard, 50, was shot and killed at a Chevron gas station in Hammond, Louisiana, just after 1:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 4. She had just finished a work shift and was sitting in the passenger seat of a parked gray sedan when two masked gunmen opened fire — unloading between 70 and 80 rounds into the car, according to Hammond Police Department.
Police Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. confirmed Sheppard was an "absolute innocent victim." The gunmen targeted the wrong car entirely. "They followed the wrong person," Bergeron said. "They killed an innocent woman because they thought it was somebody else."
Gunmen Followed Wrong Car from Work Site
Investigators believe the suspects spent hours stalking a specific person near Sanderson Farms, a local poultry plant where Sheppard worked. They had zeroed in on a gray sedan. But the person they wanted had already switched vehicles before the car left the lot. The suspects never noticed, according to WBRZ.
The driver of the gray sedan pulled into the Chevron at 3123 Highway 190 West and walked inside to the convenience store. That left Sheppard alone in the passenger seat. Within minutes, two gunmen climbed out of a white sedan at a neighboring pump and opened fire. The driver was unharmed and has been cleared of any involvement, Hammond Police Department confirmed.
Stolen Mississippi Car Helped Suspects Cover Their Trail
The white sedan used in the shooting was carjacked in McComb, Mississippi, on Tuesday night — two days before the killing. Police believe the suspects stole it on purpose. Using a car from another state makes it harder for police license plate readers to flag the vehicle, according to Hawaii News Now.
The two shooters wore masks and dark clothing. They carried AR-style pistols — high-capacity, rifle-caliber weapons that can fire dozens of rounds in seconds. After unleashing 70 to 80 shots, they fled the scene. Sheppard was found dead inside the car when officers arrived moments later, WDTV reported.
Chief Calls Suspects 'Scumbags,' Vows Arrests
Chief Bergeron did not hold back at Thursday's press conference. He called the suspects "scumbags" and said the department "will not rest until they go to jail." Lead investigator Detective Dustin Williams is heading the case. Anyone with information is urged to call him at 985-277-5755, WTOC reported.
If caught, the suspects will face first-degree murder charges under Louisiana law. Even though Sheppard was not their intended target, the legal principle of transferred intent applies — meaning they are held responsible for her death as if she were the person they meant to kill, according to Cleveland 19.
Hammond Community Shaken by Brazen Public Attack
The shooting happened at a busy gas station on U.S. 190, one of Hammond's main roads. Firing 80 rounds in a public space in the middle of the night shocked the city. Hammond already ranks in the 15th percentile for safety nationally, with a 1-in-108 chance of becoming a violent crime victim, according to KCRG.
Chief Bergeron said violence like this "stains the reputation" of a city working hard to lower its crime rate. Sheppard's death is a stark reminder of the danger bystanders face when targeted attacks go wrong. The suspects remain at large.
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