Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPONCHATOULA (WVUE) - The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival was abruptly shut down Saturday night (April 12) after two people were wounded by gunfire on the festival grounds the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said A second shooting five minutes later left a third victim wounded at the Ponchatoula Community Center at North 5th Street and Beech Street the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation on the grounds while the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation off of the grounds,” Ponchatoula Police chief Bry Layrisson said Sunday in statement these incidents are being investigated as separate Layrisson said there was no known suspect in either case All three victims were described as male teenagers The shooting on the festival grounds left one teen hospitalized with a wound to his abdomen and another treated for a graze wound to a leg The second shooting at the community center left that teen hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg all victims -- who are local -- are in stable condition and expected to be OK,” Layrisson said Authorities have not said whether the victims were targeted or struck by stray gunshots The popular harvest festival at Memorial Park will open Sunday for its scheduled final day with a church service and rides began at 10 a.m “We hope those who were planning to visit this event and community Sunday keep those plans and that everyone practices patience and respect for all present especially the hundreds of families with young children just trying to enjoy the beautiful weather at a treasured tradition,” Sheriff Gerald Sticker’s office said in a social media post Authorities have not provided details about a motive in either shooting “While we pray for the recovery of those injured we vow to hold accountable those responsible for ruining what has been an exceptional weekend,” the TPSO said in a statement Festival organizers posted a statement thanking the TPSO Ponchatoula Police and more than 10 other law enforcement agencies lending security officers to the festival for quickly and efficiently securing the festival grounds Saturday night “Please consider spending the last of your weekend in Memorial Park,” the statement said “Both of these incidents are upsetting and unacceptable and those responsible will be found and held accountable The businesses and nonprofits that rely on this event for year-round support do not deserve to have their progress and positivity derailed by foolishness and the families that enjoy this event should not be fearful to simply go out for an evening of fun “If you can’t behave respectfully in a crowd or handle disputes maturely don’t come to our community for our events.” Saturday’s incident wasn’t the first in recent years involving gunfire at or near the Strawberry Festival the 50th annual festival shut down early on Saturday night after two people exchanged gunfire in the 200 block of West Hickory Street Authorities said more than a dozen rounds were fired that night with at least three striking the headquarters building of the Ponchatoula Police Department at 195 North 6th St. See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel with the help of numerous neighboring police and sheriff’s departments have arrested six people in connection to the two shootings that took place at the Strawberry Festival on Saturday That’s when Ponchatoula Police officers responded to a call for shots fired near the ticket booth officers responded to a second call for shots fired this time at the Ponchatoula Community Center on N READ NOW: Witness account: ‘A nightmare became reality. We were only 20-30 feet from it.’ Ponchatoula Police officers secured arrest warrants on six people and five homes (the accused suspects’ homes) all search warrants were executed at the same time with the help of the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team The warrants were executed at homes on Haney Lane and Camp Street in Ponchatoula three people were injured in the shooting: one person was shot in the stomach another shot in the leg and a third person was grazed on the leg The festival did open on Sunday with a church service starting at 9 a.m. Layrisson said the festival was going smoothly He estimated that there were around 50,000 people in attendance Saturday night when shots rang out at two separate locations He said law enforcement was within about fifty feet of the first shooting but wasn’t able to apprehend anyone because of the chaos that erupted immediately following the shooting it was chaos with people running everywhere and no way to identify or follow a shooter even if we knew who it was,” Layrisson said.  “The felony terrorizing charges relate to the suspects’ physical altercation and subsequent shootings causing a severe disruption to the general public These actions will not be tolerated in the City of Ponchatoula especially at our community’s beloved festival,” Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson said Anyone with any other information on the Strawberry Festival shooting can anonymously call the Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa’s tip line at 1-800-554-5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com. Pictures and videos can also be submitted through the P3 Tips app accessible via the Crimestoppers website and the TPSO app The shooting comes after officials said they would be increasing security ahead of the 53rd annual festival “There’s going to be a lot more physical security this year there’ll be an officer on every block that you come across because their presence is what keeps us safe,” said Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson Chief Layrisson said security was increasing due to the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. Plus, there were shots fired in 2022 just outside the Strawberry Festival that left many people panicking as they were exiting the festival Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.  Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to follow up Let's ConnectFollow along on your favorite social media platform and get the latest updates directly in your feed Download our app or join our newsletter for instant access to breaking news and in-depth stories from anywhere On Friday, festivities will last from 12 p.m This is a free, family-friendly, outdoor festival that's held each year and celebrates Louisiana's state fruit Located at 301 North 6th St., this event is Louisiana's largest free-harvest festival and will feature family-friendly activities, an entertainment lineup The parade will begin in Downtown Ponchatoula and conclude at Kiwanis Park Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com PONCHATOULA — A woman who went into a Ponchatoula fast food restaurant to shoot her husband took her own life Police said that the woman went to the restaurant where her husband worked with a gun he ran out of the restaurant and she shot him in the arm The man later ran through the neighboring carwash and yelled for someone to call the police Police Chief Bry Layrisson said that when officers arrived they told the woman to drop the gun several times The man was brought to the hospital shortly after and is in stable condition Ponchatoula Police were dispatched to McDonald’s on West Pine Street in reference to a report of a shooting officers came into contact with a Black male who was suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds As officers attempted to render aid to Stanley they then came into contact with a Black female Despite several verbal commands to drop the weapon Each subject was transported to North Oaks Medical Center where Cabrina Stanley succumbed to her injuries Stanley remains at the hospital where he is listed in stable condition there are no recent results for popular commented articles Have the latest local news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates Remembering those in our community who have passed on in recent days We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The second day of the 53rd annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival started with a parade Saturday Crowds fill the grounds Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula Ponchatoula native Lindsey Cardinale performs Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula watches the strawberry eating contest Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula wave to a parade rider during the Strawberry Festival parade Saturday in Ponchatoula Strawberries await the crowds along Farmer Row Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula Crowds line East Pine Street for the Strawberry Festival parade Saturday in Ponchatoula Fairgoers take to the sky on the Vertigo ride Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula competes in the strawberry eating contest Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula Caleb Holiday marches with the Ponchatoula High School Band in the Strawberry Festival parade Saturday in Ponchatoula Members of the Ponchatoula High School Wavettes perform in the Strawberry Festival parade Saturday in Ponchatoula squeezes the whipped cream on strawberry cake at the Theta Phi Alpha sorority booth Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula The SnoBalls dance group perform Saturday at the Strawberry Festival parade in Ponchatoula News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com PONCHATOULA - One person was injured in a shooting at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office Officials said the shooting happened on festival grounds at the ticket stand The festival is being shut down early as a result Strawberry Festival officials said the festival will be open Sunday PONCHATOULA — A proposed ordinance that would have restricted the number of people allowed to gather at Ponchatoula parks during the Strawberry Festival was removed from at a recent Ponchatoula City Council agenda City Councilman Melvin Toomer expressed concern that the ordinance unfairly targeted parks and areas where the Black community has historically gathered during the annual festival Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson requested that council members remove the agenda item Monday night opting instead to enforce an existing ordinance Layrisson explained that the original proposal did not specify a limit on the number of people allowed to gather and was never intended to single out any particular group he believed withdrawing it was in the city’s best interest was designed to help law enforcement manage the estimated 200,000 visitors expected during the festival weekend “The original intent was to try to minimize significant crowds coming from out of town It was never intended to restrict our local residents from using our parks,” Layrisson said “We’ve had gatherings of over 500 people in the past and we’re just trying to control that the best we can with the limited resources that we have.” Layrisson’s department had 35 police officers and 10 volunteer officers and other law enforcement agencies from across the state and North Shore would assist with festival security law enforcement will enforce an existing rule requiring groups of 50 or more people to obtain a special events permit “We already have an ordinance in effect that any crowd of 50 or more at a public park has to request a special events permit through the police department,” Layrisson explained  City Councilman Melvin Toomer said he was glad the ordinance was pulled arguing that it lacked legal standing in the first place “We’re protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the right of people to peaceably assemble Following the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street Layrisson said security at this year’s festival would be heightened with barricades placed at busy intersections and surveillance drones monitoring the event MORE: The faces of the victims from the New Orleans terrorist attack MORE: Officers’ heroism in New Orleans Terrorist Attack honored “We’ll be bringing in steel barricades that we’ve never had before to prevent vehicles from being able to get through certain intersections “We’ll be blocking off many intersections that We’ll be blocking those off with police vehicles there’ll be an officer on every block that you come across because their presence is what keeps us safe.” The Strawberry Festival is scheduled for April 11-13 and will celebrate its 53rd year at Ponchatoula Memorial Park and website in this browser for the next time I comment (WAFB) - Troopers are warning drivers about heavy traffic on the roads during the weekend of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival The festival is set to take place on Friday and could bring as many as 300,000 visitors to the downtown Ponchatoula area As a result of the large increase in visitors to the festival area officials with Louisiana State Police said the interstate system is likely to be overloaded and could experience dangerous backups or even closures Troopers released the following details about alternate routes that drivers can take: Troopers said they plan to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe festival weekend for everyone They added that you can expect a larger law enforcement presence with troopers proactively looking for aggressive or impaired drivers Click here to report a typo Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox PONCHATOULA — Three people were injured Saturday night after a shooting at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival and an additional shooting near the event according to the Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office.  Officials said one shooting happened on festival grounds at the ticket stand around 9:25 p.m. in front of the Ponchatoula Community Center Authorities say two teenage boys are hospitalized after the Strawberry Festival shooting one with a graze wound to the leg and one with a wound to the abdomen Officials also said the teenage male victim of the Community Center shooting was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg All victims are in stable condition and are expected to be alright "Both of these incidents are upsetting and unacceptable and those responsible will be found and held accountable,"  Chief Bry Layrisson said "The businesses and non-profits that rely on this event for year-round support do not deserve to have their progress and positivity derailed by foolishness and the families that enjoy this event should not be fearful to simply go out for an evening of fun If you can't behave respectfully in a crowd or handle disputes maturely don't come to our community for our events." Ponchatoula Police are handling the investigation Currently, there are no known suspects in either case, and authorities are asking the public to provide any information in the form of pictures and/or videos to assist with making arrests. Information can be submitted here. The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival will continue with Church service at 9 a.m PONCHATOULA - Police officers in Ponchatoula arrested two people accused of a February attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery The Ponchatoula Police Department said officers searched a home for 20-year-old Jamal Griffin Monday evening police reported he was arrested Tuesday morning Officers got a second warrant for a home in Tickfaw and arrested 19-year-old Jaeson Nelson Monday night "Chief Layrisson would like to thank the public and all assisting agencies for their help in this matter," the PPD said the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival will close earlier in the evenings than it has in recent years Community leaders and festival organizers came together in agreement and shared the announcement Wednesday morning in a joint statement “In light of the recent tragic events at the Strawberry Festival our hearts remain with those affected,” said Chief Bry Layrisson “The safety and well-being of our community is—and always will be—our top priority." Mayor Wesley Daniels and Police Chief Bry Layrisson in collaboration with the Strawberry Festival Board have decided to adjust the festival’s operating hours as follows: “This decision was not made lightly,” Layrisson said “We have considered input from law enforcement and community leaders to devise a solution that prioritizes public safety while preserving the heart and spirit of the Strawberry Festival Ponchatoula mayor commits to improved safety after Strawberry Festival shootings Two shot at Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, another nearby; Sunday’s hours reduced The decision comes after there was an abrupt closure following two separate shootings near the grounds that injured two people on Day Two of the festival Day Two of the festival also closed early due to a shooting that occurred near the grounds late into the evening the festival broke its all-time attendance records It was also the 50th anniversary of the festival and the first one since the COVID-19 shutdowns See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it Ponchatoula PD officers responded to a call of a possible death behind a building in the area of N Ponchatoula Fire Department personnel began administering CPR to the subject which was continued by Acadian but the subject was unable to be revived The deceased was identified as 67-year-old Stuart Kennedy The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner's Office has been contacted to determine the cause of death BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police announced alternate routes for people entering and leaving Ponchatoula for the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival from April 11 to April 13 people coming in from Baton Rouge need to exit Interstate 12 eastbound at Pumpkin Center exit #35 they are advised to take the Causeway Bridge into Mandeville and proceed to La People coming in from Slidell or Covington should exit I-12 Westbound at La while people coming in from Mandeville can just take La officials said to take the following precautions when heading to the festival:- Do not drive distracted;- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;- Before drinking please designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;- If you're impaired or a sober friend/family member for a safe ride home;- If you encounter a suspected impaired driver on the road don't hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;- If you know someone is about to drive while impaired take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely;- Always buckle up The proper use of seatbelts continues to be the single most effective precaution one can take to greatly reduce the chance of being seriously injured or killed in the event of a crash PONCHATOULA - A woman accused of fabricating claims of her child being abused by the child's father's partner has been arrested was booked Wednesday with three counts of injuring public records and one count of resisting an officer The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office said Carter repeatedly filed complaints with the agency over several months alleging that the new partner of her child's father had been abusive Investigators found no evidence to support the allegations of abuse but did find what they said was evidence that Carter was deliberately filing false reports PONCHATOULA — Police on Tuesday identified a woman who took her own life after shooting her husband in Ponchatoula Police said that 60-year-old fast food worker Kevin Stanley was shot by his wife Ponchatoula Police said they were dispatched around 5:15 p.m when Cabrina Stanley went to the restaurant where her husband worked with a gun Kevin Stanley ran out of the restaurant and Cabrina Stanley shot him in the arm Kevin Stanley later ran through the neighboring carwash and yelled for someone to call the police they told Cabrina Stanley to drop the gun several times Kevin Stanley was brought to the hospital shortly after and is in stable condition surrounded by his dad Kevin Raiford and mother Karen Raiford signs a letter-of-intent to play at Nunez Communit college on Monday morning at Ponchatoula High School Ponchatoula High School baseball coach Scott Tribble stood to the side watching two of his Green Wave players ink scholarships to play on the next level who has been the Green Wave’s diamond boss since 2020 the Florida native first signing with a junior college in Alabama before transferring to Southeastern Louisiana University in 1992 to culminate his college career and launch his own future in coaching During a ceremony in the school’s library Monday morning son of Tangipahoa Parish assessor Kevin Raiford signed to play with Nunez Community College in Chalmette and Peyton Biondi committed to play at LSU-Alexandria four of the Green Wave’s 12 seniors are headed to the collegiate level with pitcher Ethan Laurent and outfielder D.J Bess signing with Baton Rouge Community College “No doubt this is satisfying,” said Tribble whose team will play Brother Martin High School at famed Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in New Orleans in the playoffs later this week and they are reaping the reward for that now,” Tribble said of his four signees “We want to do things the right way on and off of the field.” He said with pride that the team has a composite3.19 grade point average the highest among male sports at the school “We don’t have discipline issues because we have established the culture that we want to be excellent in everything that we do and when you do that who checks in at 6’-2,” has alternated playing right and center field Tribble has predominantly played Raiford in right field because of his arm strength “He is one of those guys that if there is a runner on first or second base you want (the opponents) to make an attempt to take the extra base because you know it will be a bang-bang play.” which has earned the respect of his teammates He does not jog down the line and sprints to where he supposed to be “All of the things you would ask a leader to do he exemplified that and the guys look up to that,” Tribble said a .300 hitter who was raised in a baseball family focusing on hitting infielders in the chest with his every throw And that commitment to perfection is what he said he will bring to Nunez “I want to continue to learn life lessons and prepare myself for the future,” he said “I am going to try to be the best that I can and improve.” He is hopeful to one day play on the Division I level and has already worked out at several D1 programs who have expressed interest ‘It is good for him to go to junior college,” Tribble said of Raiford “He has a ceiling that could be at that level.” “It depends on how he adjusts to the speed of the game He said universities are recommending to an increasing number of high school players to attend junior college knowing that in the new world of college athletics those players will have four years of eligibility remaining is polite and a good student without any disciplinary issues “It’s a little different in today’s world but it is a pleasure to coach (these players),” Tribble said