LA - 2 killed 2 injured in gun outlet shooting, Metairie, 2/20/2021

[Dallas Volunteer]

3 killed, 2 hospitalized after argument at Jefferson Gun Outlet leads to shots fired

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting in Metairie at the Jefferson Gun Outlet.

According to Sheriff Joseph Lopinto, three people are dead and two people were taken to area hospitals and are considered to be stable.

At around 2:50 pm, Lopinto said deputies responded to the shooting at the Jefferson Gun Outlet in the 6700 block of Airline Drive.

Deputies found several victims suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Lopinto.

JPSO sources say that a man entered the gun outlet with a loaded gun unholstered.

Sources say that the man got into an argument with a clerk who told him he should not have a loaded gun until he got inside the range.

According to JPSO sources, shots were fired during the argument when at least two customers on the range engaged the man.

The man was shot, but also fired back at the two customers who were also injured, according to JPSO sources.

At this time, Lopinto said it appears a suspect shot two victims inside the location, then was engaged by the two customers and shot outside the location by multiple other individuals.

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

Jefferson Gun Outlet Shooting in Metairie: 5 Fast Facts | Heavy.com

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

New Orleans man, 27, started Jefferson Gun Outlet shootout that left him and 2 others dead: sources

The sources said Joshua Jamal Williams carried a pistol with an extended clip into the gun store and indoor shooting range at 6719 Airline Drive about 3 p.m. Saturday when staff told him to unload his weapon.

Williams subsequently fired a warning round before fatally shooting a store clerk, 47-year-old Noah Fischbach, who was married and was a father, one of the sources said. Several armed people at Jefferson Gun Outlet then began exchanging gunfire with Williams.

A woman on social media identifying herself as Williams' mother posted a similar message, saying, "My son did not go into that gun range shooting!"

The message added: "Joshua ... was fired at by ... employees of the gun range and other folks in the gun range! He was murdered! (Rest in peace) my love, you will be forever in my heart!"

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

New Orleans man, 27, started Jefferson Gun Outlet shootout that left him and 2 others dead: sources

From the article. Sound from nearby park when shooting occurred:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=5142871132420633

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

“It felt like we were in a war,” Eyewitnesses thankful to walk away from Metairie gun store shootout

METAIRIE, La. (WVUE) - They both walked into a concealed carry class without knowing each other, but now, Wanetta Joseph and Tyrone Russell say they’re both survivors.

“The whole ground was moving. It felt like they were going to shoot through the wall, you could smell the gunsmoke, that’s how crazy it was. We felt like we were in a war,” they said.

They say one of the three instructors stayed behind to barricade and keep the class safe while people immediately starting dialing 911.
<snip>
Walking away from an incident like that, Joseph says she finds it all the more reason to have a way to protect herself.

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

A woman on social media identifying herself as Williams' mother posted a similar message, saying, "My son did not go into that gun range shooting!"

I imagine we will soon see with our own eyes as it seems gun stores always have excellent video surveillance.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I imagine we will soon see with our own eyes as it seems gun stores always have excellent video surveillance.

Yes! I thought the same thing.

Why did Williams fire a warning shot? I would see that as a threat.

 

[Teche]

Odd thing is that the shooting range is frequented by odd-duty LE and former military. Everyone in the building was packing either for a concealed handgun class of the firing range. This was a terrible place to pick a gunfight.

 

[EGirl]

I have never been to a range where there aren't signs indicating you cannot enter with a loaded weapon. Weapons are only to be loaded once on the range.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I have never been to a range where there aren't signs indicating you cannot enter with a loaded weapon. Weapons are only to be loaded once on the range.

From their website -
CAUTION: If you have your own firearm and will be arriving with it, please ensure it is UNLOADED with the slide LOCKED BACK. It is strictly forbidden to load any weapon (including magazines) in the lounge or seating areas. All loading must be done on the range and in your assigned lane. At no time should you leave the walled lane you are assigned to load a magazine. NOTICE: Leaving the walled lane you are assigned with a firearm (other than transporting it to the lobby to resolve your tab) could result in expulsion from the property.

AT NO TIME is horseplay, mock aiming, unsafe use of firearms, etc. allowed in the range, lobby or surrounding property of Jefferson Indoor Range. Doing so could result in expulsion or banning from the property.

*PLEASE NOTE: If you are arriving with a firearm, it must be unloaded, holstered or boxed, and safe. Violators will be asked to promptly leave the facility. All firearms are subject to inspection prior to entering the range.
The Shooters Club is an indoor PISTOL CALIBER rated range facility. Handgun Caliber Rifles are acceptable (up to 44 Magnum), however, Shotguns and shotgun ammunition (including pistols or rifles that fire shotgun ammunition) are NOT allowed in the facility at any time. We do offer rifle caliber firearm rentals in semi-automatic and Fully-Automatic packages. NO BLACK POWDER FIREARMS ARE ALLOWED IN THE RANGE. Rifle caliber firearms configured as a "PISTOL" (ie. an AR-15 pistol, mini-draco, etc.) do NOT constitute PISTOL CALIBER AMMUNITION.

THE RANGE – JEFFERSON INDOOR

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Belle Chasse woman who went to pick up gun among slain at Jefferson Gun Outlet

Veronica Billiot had gone into Jefferson Gun Outlet in Metairie on Saturday afternoon to pick up a gun she had ordered for protection when an argument started nearby, her sister says.

“She was a very giving person — she looked after her two younger sisters, that’s what she did,” Linda Billiot said. “She always made sure we had everything we needed, that she was there to support us for everything.”

Linda Billiot said her sister also studied at Tulane University before getting into real estate and landing a job as a property manager for military housing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in Belle Chasse. She raised three children who gave her six grandchildren.

Alex Lewis, the president of New Orleans Navy Housing, LLC and Patrician Management, said in an emailed statement that Billiot "led a full and successful life both at home and work" and was "dedicated to her employees."

"She served our company and the military families at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Belle Chasse for 15 years," Lewis said in an emailed statement. "She was a tireless worker with a passion for excellence along with a deep respect for our military families."

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

'He was amazing': Family describes Jefferson Gun Outlet employee after fatal shooting

Herbert "Noah" Fischbach, an employee of the store who was married for more than a decade and was a father to a teenage son, was among three people who died after the deadly shootout, according to his wife, Nancy Fischbach.

Fischbach described her husband as a motivated person who had ambitions to work his way up in the film industry. He worked as a special effects specialist and an armorer, who supervises the use of all weapons on a film set and gives actors and staff instruction for how to properly and safely use them.

Because of COVID-19 and its restrictions on the film industry, he had been working more at the Jefferson Parish gun store, she said, adding that he had been cautious to stay well so he could continue to further his career when restrictions loosen.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Wow! It’s worse than I had imagined.

After 3 dead in Jefferson Gun Outlet shooting, sheriff doesn't know 'if we'll ever know the why'

"I don't know if we'll ever know the 'why,'" Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said during a news conference Monday.
<snip>

Williams had gone to the store with his brother, Timothy Williams, and two children, ages 7 and 9, to buy ammunition, according to Lopinto. Williams, a concealed firearms permit holder, had a handgun with an extended magazine protruding from his clothing, authorities said.

Jefferson Gun employees asked him if the gun was loaded, and told him it would need to be "cleared." There didn't seem to be any kind of confrontation, according to Lopinto.

"There was no argument between the two," Lopinto said of Joshua Williams and the employee who asked him to take the loaded gun out of the store.

Williams opened the door to leave, but fired the warning shot outside before turning back to face those inside the store.

"Williams trained his gun on (Veronica) Billiot, firing at least two rounds, hitting her," Lopinto said.

As Billiot fell to the ground, three employees, including Fischbach, returned fire on Williams, though investigators don't believe he was hit at that time.

During the first exchange of gunfire, Williams hit one of the employees in the arm, Lopinto said. Williams ran out of the store, taking one of the two children with him. He returned after about eight seconds, but Sheriff's Office investigators don't believe that staffers knew he'd come back into the building.

Williams passed his brother, who was uninjured and lying on the ground. Timothy Williams grabbed the other child and ran out of the store as Joshua Williams rounded the gun store's counter and shot a crouching Fischbach once in the back, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Williams then continued down a hallway, seemingly searching for other victims, Lopinto said. He walked back to the front of the store and exited before being confronted by an employee in the parking.

Williams re-entered the business for a few seconds and then walked back out into the parking lot where there was a final shootout, according to Lopinto. Four armed employees who'd escaped the building through different exits fired at Williams. He collapsed in the parking lot where he was later pronounced dead.

A second employee suffered a gunshot wound to his leg during the parking lot shootout, Loptino said. Both that employee and the man shot in the arm are expected to survive.

 

[Deleted member 212413]

Wow! It’s worse than I had imagined.

After 3 dead in Jefferson Gun Outlet shooting, sheriff doesn't know 'if we'll ever know the why'

"I don't know if we'll ever know the 'why,'" Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said during a news conference Monday.
<snip>

Williams had gone to the store with his brother, Timothy Williams, and two children, ages 7 and 9, to buy ammunition, according to Lopinto. Williams, a concealed firearms permit holder, had a handgun with an extended magazine protruding from his clothing, authorities said.

Jefferson Gun employees asked him if the gun was loaded, and told him it would need to be "cleared." There didn't seem to be any kind of confrontation, according to Lopinto.

"There was no argument between the two," Lopinto said of Joshua Williams and the employee who asked him to take the loaded gun out of the store.

Williams opened the door to leave, but fired the warning shot outside before turning back to face those inside the store.

"Williams trained his gun on (Veronica) Billiot, firing at least two rounds, hitting her," Lopinto said.

As Billiot fell to the ground, three employees, including Fischbach, returned fire on Williams, though investigators don't believe he was hit at that time.

During the first exchange of gunfire, Williams hit one of the employees in the arm, Lopinto said. Williams ran out of the store, taking one of the two children with him. He returned after about eight seconds, but Sheriff's Office investigators don't believe that staffers knew he'd come back into the building.

Williams passed his brother, who was uninjured and lying on the ground. Timothy Williams grabbed the other child and ran out of the store as Joshua Williams rounded the gun store's counter and shot a crouching Fischbach once in the back, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Williams then continued down a hallway, seemingly searching for other victims, Lopinto said. He walked back to the front of the store and exited before being confronted by an employee in the parking.

Williams re-entered the business for a few seconds and then walked back out into the parking lot where there was a final shootout, according to Lopinto. Four armed employees who'd escaped the building through different exits fired at Williams. He collapsed in the parking lot where he was later pronounced dead.

A second employee suffered a gunshot wound to his leg during the parking lot shootout, Loptino said. Both that employee and the man shot in the arm are expected to survive.

Wow. That’s so brutal!

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

After 3 dead in Jefferson Gun Outlet shooting, sheriff doesn't know 'if we'll ever know the why'

"Williams trained his gun on (Veronica) Billiot, firing at least two rounds, hitting her," Lopinto said.

This article did not do the suspect any favors. They called his shooting of Veronica an execution.

He clearly avoided shooting his brother and the kids brought with them and targeted the employees and others there.

I will be interested in seeing toxicology on him. Would like to know his personal beliefs and any issues he might have going on.

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

‘There was no argument’ before suspect opened fire at Metairie gun range, sheriff says

This article has some surveillance video of the event. You can see him start to walk outside, presumably after being asked to, but then shoot his gun in the air and quickly turn and take aim. He looked ready to shoot and kill especially continuing back into the store and down the hallway after shooting and killing Noah.

 

[Deleted member 212413]

‘There was no argument’ before suspect opened fire at Metairie gun range, sheriff says

This article has done surveillance video of the event. You can see him start to walk outside and shoot his gun in the air but then quickly turn and take aim. He looked ready to shoot and kill.

Well that’s good - then this cannot be disputed I hope. I can’t imagine having a family member or friend do something like this and having to come to terms with it!

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

This article did not do the suspect any favors. They called his shooting of Veronica an execution.

He clearly avoided shooting his brother and the kids brought with them and targeted the employees and others there.

I will be interested in seeing toxicology on him. Would like to know his personal beliefs and any issues he might have going on.

His aunt says he had anger control issues that stemmed from social ills. Hmmm

After 3 dead in Jefferson Gun Outlet shooting, sheriff doesn't know 'if we'll ever know the why'

On Monday, a woman named Janice Hutchinson, who identified herself as Williams aunt, wrote on Facebook, “Our hearts go out to family and friends of those who suffered an untimely and senseless death,” naming Fischbach and Billiot, as well as Williams.

She wrote about the pain and emptiness the family is suffering because of the deaths of innocent people at the hands of a loved one, noting that Williams had anger control issues that stemmed from social ills.

In speaking with detectives, Timothy Williams didn't have any answers for authorities, either, according to Lopinto.

"He believes his brother flipped out," Lopinto said.

Hutchinson described Williams as a bright child who could have reached the starts until things happened that “dimmed his light of hope.”

“He did a monstrous deed, but he was not a monster,” she wrote.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Surveillance footage shows gunman, 27, entering Louisiana gun store before mass shooting where he was killed by customers in gunfight that also left a woman and store clerk dead

(I am on my phone & unable to post the link for some reason. This comes from the Daily Mail FYI.)