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T h u r s d ay, M a r c h 6, 2025
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Mamou Mardi Gras shooting kills 2
12 injured during concert; 2 in critical condition BY JA’KORI MADISON and CLAIRE TAYLOR
more are in critical condition, Chief Charles “Pat” Hall said. The shooting, which took place Staff writers at an outdoor zydeco concert on The Mamou chief of police con- the north side of Mamou, came firmed Wednesday that 14 people just 24 hours after another shootwere shot during a Mardi Gras ing Monday night at a Lundi Gras concert Tuesday and at least two gathering in which three people have died from their injuries. Two were injured.
The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police are assisting in the investigation, Hall said Wednesday in a statement. He said it was still an active investigation and told another media outlet that there may be more victims.
“It is very sad incident that took place here in Mamou, and I want to send my deepest condolences to any of the victims and their families,” said the town’s mayor, Leisa Deshtotel. According to Deshotel, this is the first time an incident of this magnitude has occurred during the Mardi Gras festival in Mamou. “The Sheriff’s Department and chief of Mamou Police Depart-
ment are actively investigating the situation. If anyone has any information, we just ask that you report it to the Police Department as the investigations continues,” Deshotel said. In several videos of the shooting shared on social media, Chris Ardoin and his band NuStep Zydeko were playing and hundreds of
ä See MAMOU, page 5A
Trump pauses some tariffs
WEARING ASHES
One-month exemption granted for U.S. automakers BY JOSH BOAK and ROB GILLIES
Associated Press
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
ABOVE: Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel, foreground, and the Rev. Chester Arceneaux distribute ashes during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette. Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting. It marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. RIGHT: Congregants return to their seats after receiving ashes during Wednesday’s Mass.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, as worries persist that the newly launched trade war could crush domestic manufacturing. The pause comes after Trump spoke with leaders of the “Big 3” automakers, Ford, General Motors ä Farmers, and Stellantis, on consumers Wednesday, accord- brace for ing to White House tariffs. press secretary PAGE 10C Karoline Leavitt. Asked if 30 days was enough for the auto sector to prepare for the new taxes, Leavitt said Trump was blunt with the automakers seeking an exemption: “He told them that they should get on it, start investing, start moving, shift production here to the United States of America where they will pay no tariff.” Trump had long promised to impose tariffs, but his opening weeks in the White House involved aggressive threats and surprise suspensions, leaving allies unclear at what the U.S. president is actually trying to achieve. Based off various Trump administration statements, the tariffs
ä See TARIFFS, page 5A
Southern student died after being punched during hazing, sources say BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER and ANDREA GALLO Staff writers
Caleb Wilson, a 20-year-old Southern University student, died last week after being punched in the chest during a fraternity hazing ritual in which about 10 fraternity members hit pledges with their fists and objects, sources close to the criminal investigation into Wilson’s death said Wednesday. The Feb. 27 hazing incident took place at a warehouse off Greenwell Springs Road, according to multiple sources — not at a local
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park, as police said some of the fraternity members told them. One source said Wilson was not singled out, but he apparently “experienced a medical episode as a result of being pledged.” The source said 911 was never called and there was a lapse in time between Wilson’s medical episode and fraternity members bringing him to a hospital. Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office records show the warehouse is leased by Todd Smith, owner of California Hardwood Floors, and East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council member Cleve Dunn Jr., owner of Runner’s Courier Ser-
vice. Smith is a member of Lambda Alpha Ques, according to the group’s website, which is a graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi — the fraternity under criminal investigation by police and an administrative probe by Southern University. He told local TV station WAFB that his son is a member of Omega Psi Phi. On Feb. 27, Baton Rouge authorities said Wilson was brought to a hospital “unconscious” by people who found him that way at the North Sherwood Forest Park. Baton Rouge police officers
PHOTO PROVIDED By SOUTHERN UNIVERSITy’S HUMAN JUKEBOX
Caleb Wilson, who played the trumpet with Southern University’s Human ä See HAZING, page 4A Jukebox, died last week after an off-campus event.
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100TH yEAR, NO. 249