City worker shot in his arm outside Bilberry Park Recreation Center

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — A City of Shreveport worker is recuperating after being shot while trying to de-escalate a situation at one of the city’s recreation centers, a city official said.

The Shreveport Parks and Recreation (SPAR) employee was shot in one of his arms, Councilman Jerry Bowman told KSLA News 12. His wound is not considered to be life-threatening, authorities had previously told KSLA News 12.

And Bowman said that despite having been shot, the worker was in good spirits at the hospital.

Police have released no information about a possible suspect.

The shooting happened at 4:59 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 on Alabama Avenue at West Caperton Street, Caddo 911 dispatch records show. That’s at Bilberry Park Recreation Center.

Two people were playing basketball when they got into a disagreement and the city worker asked them to leave. Bowman told KSLA News 12 that the worker was walking with the two as they left when the situation went sideways.

Once outside, one of the two pulled out a gun and fired. The worker, who was not the intended target, was struck by a single bullet.

Police initially sent eight units to the scene, dispatch records show. The Fire Department had at least one unit there.

Bowman noted that discussions already had been underway on implementing more preventive security measures, specifically security cameras, when this shooting happened.

Later on Wednesday night, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins posted the following statement on his Facebook page:

“As we continue working hard to combat the violence in our city, one of our own was impacted while on the job. They were doing the right thing by giving back to our youth.

“I just spoke with him and we are grateful his injuries are not life-threatening, but we all know that this situation could have ended very differently.

“Thank you to the Shreveport Police Department for their work on this investigation. We will continue doing our part to end these senseless acts of violence in our community.”

Below is that post and related comments:

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call SPD at 318-673-7300 #3, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 318-673-7373.

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