“Former Coworker Kills Two Men at Harvey Shipyard, Suspect Dies in Shootout”

Two men were shot and killed by a recently fired coworker at a shipyard in Harvey, Louisiana on July 17th. The suspect, 31-year-old Willis Thomas Jr., was himself killed later in a shootout with deputies.

The shooting took place at FMT Shipyard & Repairs on Peters Road in Harvey. The victims, 48-year-old Nakie James Brown and 20-year-old Dustin Parrie Jr., were both from Harvey. Thomas, also from Harvey, was described as a former employee who had recently been fired. He was a convicted felon, having served a year in prison and completed five years of probation for a 2017 guilty plea for robbery.

Authorities believe that Thomas targeted the two men because they worked in the same labor crew as him. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto stated that the motive was clearly to kill his former coworkers. After the initial shooting, Thomas was picked up by his mother and taken to his home in an apartment complex on Manhattan Boulevard.

When deputies arrived at the apartment, Thomas spotted them and attempted to flee on foot. He then produced a firearm and began shooting at the deputies. Multiple deputies returned fire, fatally striking Thomas.

FMT Shipyard released a statement expressing their condolences to the victims and their families. They referred to the incident as a tragic shooting event and stated that their thoughts and prayers are with those affected.

The shooting has left the community stunned and shocked. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing issue of workplace violence and the potential dangers that can arise from conflicts in the workplace. The incident also highlights the importance of implementing proper security measures and protocols to ensure the safety of employees..