A woman who found her stolen car near Westwego exchanged gunfire with several people in a car, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman said Friday, resulting in the death of a man not involved in the shootout.
A man was killed inside his apartment on New Year's Eve when one of the bullets went through his window, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Brandon Veal previously said.
But a ballistics test showed the bullet was not from the woman whose car was stolen, he said Friday. The other shots were fired by suspects in the car theft.
The shooting was reported before 9 p.m. Sunday on Beechgrove Boulevard near Westwego and Bridge City. Deputies found Corey Warmington, 32, dead in his apartment.
He was "a completely innocent victim," Sheriff Joe Lopinto said this week.
The shooting started after a woman tracked down her stolen vehicle. She called police, they processed the vehicle, and she and was waiting on a locksmith.
A dark-colored sedan drove up with several male suspects inside who had likely stolen her car, sheriff's officials said. They began shooting, and she returned fire.
"In all likelihood, they were coming back to take the car and go someplace else," Lopinto said.
Warmington's family told WWL Louisiana he was a young father and avid fisherman who would be dearly missed.
Corey Warmington, 32, was killed by a stray bullet that went through his Bridge City apartment window on New Year's Eve.
"I just want to tell him I love him and that I am going to take care of his kids, every last one of them," his older sister Tanyijah James said.
Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Homicide Section at 504-364-5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an indictment.