Iberia deputies investigating Sunday fatal shooting

Deputies seek witnesses to Iberia death

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate a Sunday morning shooting outside a tavern near Jeanerette that left a 22-year-old Franklin man dead and two others injured, officials said Monday.

Iberia Parish Coroner Carl Ditch on Monday identified the dead shooting victim as Harold Defils, 610 Trowbridge, Franklin.

Ditch said Defils died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. in the parking lot of Mon Ami Tavern, 7304 E. Highway 90, about 6 miles outside of Jeanerette, Capt. Ryan Turner, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said in a news release Sunday.

Turner said investigators believe the shootings resulted from an argument that began inside the bar.

No arrests had been made in the shootings as of Monday, but detectives have identified people of interest in the case, Turner said.

“There were probably over 100 people outside of the parking lot at the time the incident occurred,” Turner said on Monday, adding that detectives are tracking down potential eyewitnesses to the shooting.

Turner said he did not know what event was being held at the tavern. He said sheriff’s deputies were working security at the bar at the time, but did not know whether the deputies were inside or outside when the shooting occurred.

The tavern is owned by the Grand Marais Mardi Gras Association. Officials with the association did not return a call for comment Monday.

KLFY-TV reported that the tavern is sometimes rented out for events.

Turner said the tavern is not “strictly a bar.”

The other two victims both were from the St. Mary Parish and identified as a 33-year-old and a 28-year-old.

One suffered a gunshot to the wrist and the other suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, Turner said.

Both men were brought to a local hospital by someone other than an ambulance, Turner said.

“We were notified by the hospitals of their involvement, Turner said.

Anyone with information involving the incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at [phone].