By Bonnie Culverhouse
Minden Police are investigating a shooting that happened at a gathering in the early morning hours Saturday.
Chief Jared McIver said the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Carolina Street.
“There was a gathering, and a person who was at the party, but unwanted at the party, became angry,” McIver said. “He got in his truck and as he began to leave, fired multiple rounds, striking another man in the arm and another vehicle and then hit a vehicle with his as he was leaving the scene.”
Gunfire was returned striking the original shooter – identified as Corey Henix, 35 – in the neck. The chief said handguns were used and spent casings were found at the site and in Henix’s vehicle.
“Henix drove himself to LSU Shreveport, where he was taken into surgery,” McIver said. “The man who was shot first, went to Minden Medical Center with a gunshot in the arm. He was an uncooperative witness, and we are unsure at this time if he was the other shooter.”
When Henix is released from the hospital, Minden Police Detectives will serve him with an arrest warrant. He will be charged with three counts of attempted second degree murder, one count of hit-and-run and one count of aggravated criminal damage to property.
McIver said he is proud of his investigators, who are working multiple cases at this time.
“Given all the crimes we’ve had recently, they have been working around the clock most times,” he said. “They’re doing a great job, and I’m proud of them. It’s a lot – so much processing of evidence and paperwork, while following leads and the legwork that requires.”
McIver said Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Minden City Marshals and Louisiana State Police have been invaluable.
“They provide a camaraderie and insight that really makes a huge difference,” he said.
Six of seven suspected Ewell Park shooters have been caught from the incident in April, but McIver said his men are still searching for that seventh person, as well as the man suspected of killing Daniel Madison Merritt.
“I know Cedric Stephens is still out there from the most recent shooting, but they haven’t stopped working on that case either – even when other cases come in, they just don’t stop,” McIver continued. “We are still working on leads, but they are slowing down. We need the public’s help to find Cedric.”
But the chief said he is confident they will find Stephens soon and make that arrest. A reward is being offered for information that will lead to Stephens’ capture. Those with information should call Minden PD 377-1212 or Webster Sheriff’s Department 377-1515. Ask to speak to a detective in reference to the whereabouts of Cedric Stephens.
Stephens is suspected of shooting Merritt two weeks ago and hiding his body in the woods near Auction Barn Road in Minden.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
