Details remain sketchy however, on Sept. 22, at 3 a.m., a State Trooper reported hearing shots fired while driving on the Hwy. 1 bypass near Stine’s Lumber.

Officers responded to the area and located a black male lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The victim, identified as Stafford Jefferson, was transported to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center then to Rapides Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Jefferson later succumbed to his injuries.

NPD Investigators are hard at work processing the scene, gathering evidence, and talking to area residents in an effort to develop suspect or suspects. Further information will be released upon discovery.