A Mississippi man was arrested Sunday morning after he intentionally struck a pedestrian walking along U. S. Highway 80 near Calhoun.
Johnny Lagrone Franks, Jr., 33, of Biloxi, Miss., was charged with two counts of attempted second degree murder and two counts of reckless operation of a vehicle, according to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responding to the accident found a victim at the scene who was critically injured from apparently being struck by a vehicle. The investigation indicated Franks struck the victim intentionally with his vehicle while the victim was walking in the grassy area along the shoulder. Witnesses to the incident stopped to render aid to the injured victim and the suspect then attempted to hit them, striking their vehicle but not injuring anyone.
Franks was arrested and booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center. Samples were taken for toxicology tests and additional charges are pending based on the results of the testing.
The injured victim is still in critical condition and is currently receiving treatment for his injuries. Bail had not been set for Franks as of Tuesday afternoon.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
