Six people were injured, two critically, after gunfire erupted late Saturday at a large gathering in a rural area of Webster Parish. The event, billed as “#BigBlessed Littest Bonfire Pt. 3,” was held on private property in the 5100 block of LA Highway 531 and drew hundreds of attendees.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker described the scene as chaotic and unregulated. “What we have is a very large crime scene with hundreds of people involved, and we’re still investigating,” Parker said.
Deputies responded to reports of gunfire before midnight Saturday, only to find a massive crowd still partying despite the shootings. The sheriff’s office was unaware of the event, which appears to have been unpermitted, according to Parker.
“Our office knew nothing about this event in advance,” Parker said. “We first learned this bonfire was posted on social media late Saturday. We’re not aware of a request for a permit at this time, but we’re checking on that.”
The event’s promotional materials advertised live performances, a DJ, free food and drinks, and a $15 entry fee. Security was purportedly “strictly enforced,” but Parker said no licensed security was present. Instead, a woman collecting entry fees and distributing armbands managed the crowd. “She started with around 350 armbands,” Parker said, noting that several hundred people were at the scene.
When deputies arrived, they faced significant obstacles. “We couldn’t even get in there,” Parker said. “The deputies had to park on Highway 531 and walk at least a quarter mile to the scene because there was so much traffic.”
Despite the gunshots, attendees continued the party as deputies navigated through blocked roads and a chaotic scene.
“The road was blocked. We could not have gotten an ambulance down in there if people had needed to be transported,” Parker said. “This is why the police jury passed the ordinance about permits for large gatherings. We want to provide safety for the citizens. We want everybody to have a good time, but we also want to maintain peace and harmony.”
Parker said investigators are conducting interviews to determine what led to the shooting. “We’re still investigating; we’re not going to leave any stone unturned until we bring some justice to those who were injured,” he said.
The investigation will also focus on the lack of a permit for the event. Permits for gatherings exceeding 200 people can be obtained through the Webster Parish Police Jury. “We want to help educate people so they realize that all it would’ve taken is a deputy parked at the end of the road, making sure everyone was coming through safely, and this problem may never have happened,” Parker said.
The property owner who hosted the event may face legal consequences. “The property owner that put on this event is liable,” Parker said. “All six of those folks who were injured on that property at that event they hosted can civilly sue. And I don’t think they [the organizers] realize that.”
Parker urged anyone with information about the shootings to contact his office. “We want to maintain order in the parish, and we have ordinances in place to help prevent these things from happening,” he said. “We don’t know the reasons for the shootings yet, but this is what can happen when you have a combination of large uncontrolled crowds, music, and alcohol plus little or no security.”
The investigation is ongoing. All information provided to investigators will remain confidential.