St. James Parish Sheriff Says Investigation Into Bonfire Fire Doesn't Show A Racial Motive

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CONVENT — St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin said Thursday no evidence has surfaced so far of a racial motivation at play in a fight at a Christmas Eve bonfire on the levee in Gramercy that sent two black teens to the hospital.

"I don't see anything that supports it's a racial/hate crime," Martin said. "Prior to the fight, they were all up there having a nice time."

He said investigators were still conducting interviews with the victims and witnesses on Thursday and expect to be in a position to make arrests in the case soon. The reason the fight broke out, though, remains unclear at this point, he said.

"We all know it was a fight between young black men and young white men, but we don't know if it's over hate," the sheriff said. "We have not determined the motive of this fight."

The mothers of the victims have said in interviews that their sons told them they were were attacked by a group of white males after a white girl talked to one of the black teens in their group. Martin said he was aware of the statements the mothers have made, as well as posts on Facebook and social media saying the fight was racially driven.

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"If there are some facts out there that support that, give us that," Martin said, urging those who were present and have information about the incident to come forward.

"I can tell you with confidence we're going to close this thing up within another day and we'll be in the position where we can run some (arrest) warrants," Martin said.

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La'Quesha Scott of Convent said her son, who turned 15 on Dec. 15, suffered a sprained knee during the fight, when a group of white males attacked him and other black youths.

She said her nephew, Shannon Dumas Jr. 17, suffered severe injuries to his face.

La'Quesha Scott said friends the two boys were with at the bonfire drove them immediately to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales after the fight.

Lahoma Dumas, the mother of Shannon Dumas, said Thursday that her son had to get 17 stitches, in multiple places on his face and head, including stitches to repair a split earlobe. His nose was also fractured, Dumas said, and she'll be bringing him to a primary physician, as instructed at the hospital emergency room, once the swelling goes down.

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