Arrest Made in Sunday Morning Homicide

An alteration led to the shooting death of a Lake Charles man on Sunday. The suspect, a Ville Platte man, was arrested and is being held on bond.

According to a media release, the Lake Charles Police Department responded to a shooting on Sunday, November 24, at 8:54am, on Legion Street. When officers arrived they found Eddie Hardman, 23, Lake Charles, in the parking lot of Apartment J, injured from a gunshot wound. Hardman was transported to a local hospital where he later died due to injuries sustained during the shooting.

After further investigation, detectives learned that an altercation between several parties led to J'Vonte Melik Sterling, 17, Ville Platte, La., who had nothing to do with the initial altercation, to pull a handgun and shoot Hardman. Sterling then left the scene on foot and was located by officers a short time later near the location where the shooting took place. His bond is set at $1 million.

The investigation is ongoing.