Eunice police identify suspect in shooting as member of a street gang

Eunice police arrested a suspect early Thursday in the shooting of a 23-year-old man at Lewis and McArthur streets at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
And, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot identified the suspect as a member of a street gang.
“We have a suspect in custody,” Fontenot said. “We will be getting an arrest warrant signed this morning.”
The suspect is Sidney Hills, 17, of Goldman Street, Eunice.
“He was picked up for questioning,” Fontenot said. “He admitted to holding the gun, which was pointed at the victim when the gun discharged.”
Hills told police he did not know the victim, Fontenot said.
Jeremy Neville was wounded by a .22-caliber bullet that struck him in the back while he was walking and talking to his girlfriend on a phone, Fontenot said.
Neville said he did not know Hills, he said.
Police recovered a weapon thought to be used in the shooting, he said.
A round in the gun matched an expended round found at the scene, he said.
Hills is a member of Goons For Life, “a local group whose name has been coming up a little too often for us,” Fontenot said.
“The Goons For Life are going to be disbanded by police,” he said.
“To the Goons For Life from the Eunice Police Department, quit messing in our streets and with our people or you are going to end up with your other members,” Fontenot said.
Neville, who was taken to Lafayette General Hospital for treatment after the shooting, has returned home, he said.
Detectives Robert Brickley and Nicholas Cooley worked the case, Fontenot said. Cooley worked the case from the initial report Wednesday until 3 a.m. today, he said.