Addis WBR: Homeowner arrested after shooting at students rolling homes with toilet paper

quote:

---

ADDIS — A Homecoming tradition turned violent Tuesday night when gunfire erupted as a result of teens vandalizing homes with toilet paper, Addis Police said. The homeowner, Josiah Arrington, is now behind bars, charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.

A man at Riverboat Trailer Park on La. 1 fired at a vehicle that was leaving out from the area. The students are accused of TP’ing the wrong home, thinking it belonged to one of their classmates, Addis PD says.

Arrington allegedly fired a single shot at the SUV belonging to a family member of one of the students. No one was injured, but the incident left a bullet hole in a Ford Escape.

Addis Police were investigating two scenes Tuesday night – one at the trailer park and one near Belle Vale and Poplar Grove drives. One was where the shooting took place and another was where the students went to after leaving the scene.

Gonzales Police Chief Sherman Jackson had to warn Ascension students pulling pranks ahead of the St. Amant – East Ascension game last month that property damage and other criminal behavior would be punished by the justice system. Spray-painting on houses, paintball gun shootouts and mailbox damage were reported there. Jackson said several students were arrested or got summonses as a result.

Addis Police issued guidance earlier Tuesday for students and parents warning them about what behavior is criminal.

“The use of toilet paper alone does not automatically constitute a crime,” the Addis safety advisory said. It warned that going onto private property, damaging property with eggs, paint, food or other substances and tampering with other people’s things can land teens in hot water.

“A tradition should not become a criminal record,” the advisory said.

---