Police and Fire Briefs for Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012

Sunjay Barber

Lightning suspected
in grocery store fire

Firefighters are investigating a fire Monday night at the Hi Nabor supermarket on Drusilla Lane that they believe was caused by a lightning strike.

Firefighters from the Baton Rouge Fire Department and St. George Fire Protection District were called out to the store at 7:53 p.m., Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesman Curt Monte said. He said flames were discovered under the facade at the store’s entrance and part of the store’s roof, Monte said.

The fire was brought under control at 8:43 p.m., Monte said. The roof and the facade were damaged, but the interior of the store appeared to be in good condition and no one was injured, he said.

People inside the store and in nearby stores at the same shopping center were evacuated, Monte said.

Teen surrenders
in two shootings

A 16-year-old boy surrendered to authorities Wednesday in the killing of one man and the attempted killing of another in the 2500 block of Thomas Delpit Drive on July 24, Baton Rouge police said Monday.

The teenager, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention Center on one count each of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police Cpl. Tommy Stubbs said in a news release.

James Ray Mimms, 42, 5169 Annette St., was shot in the neck and died at the scene. The other victim is in critical condition, Stubbs said. Police are still trying to determine a motive, he said.

Shooting victim
dies of injuries

The 18-year-old man shot in the face by two men posing as pizza delivery men July 31 at his apartment at 4707 Tigerland Ave. died Friday after being taken off life support, authorities said Monday.

Shane Evans, chief of investigations with the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office, said his office was notified Friday of Philip Boudreaux’s death. Boudreaux was shot over “drugs and robbery,” police spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.

Dedrick Brown, 24, 4305 Chapeau Drive, Baker, was booked into Parish Prison Friday on a count of attempted first-degree murder. George Triplett, 22, 413 Elmer St., was booked Thursday on the same count. Both of the men’s counts have since been upgraded to first-degree murder.

Sitter booked with
desertion, cruelty

Baton Rouge police arrested a child sitter accused of leaving a toddler inside a parked, closed and idle vehicle for at least 90 minutes Saturday near a hotel and casino on South River Road, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Officers arrived at 3:32 a.m. after a witness and hotel security called and said they saw the 2-year-old girl screaming inside the car, the affidavit says. The investigation led to the arrest of Sunjay Barber, 27, 2724 Iberia St., who was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on counts of child desertion and cruelty to a juvenile.

The child’s grandmother and Barber said they had five children and the toddler must have been overlooked while they unloaded the vehicle earlier, the affidavit says. The child’s mother, who was planning a wedding the next day, said she did not know the toddler was in the car, the affidavit says.

Robbers take money
and workers home

Two gunmen stole money from the register at Wendy’s, 4545 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., at 10 p.m. Sunday, took money and property from three employees and drove the employees home in a car belonging to one of the employees, a blue 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, Baton Rouge police said Monday.

The first robber is described as a black man in his mid 20s, standing 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, police spokesman Cpl. Tommy Stubbs said. He has a short haircut and a mustache, Stubbs said.

The second robber is described as a black man in his late 20s to early 30s, Stubbs said. He is 6 feet tall with a thick build, short hair and beard with some gray hair, Stubbs said.

Anyone with information can contact police at [phone] or Crime Stoppers at [phone].

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call [phone].