Investigators are still working diligently on the investigation of an incident that occurred in downtown Ruston early Saturday morning, according to Police Chief Eric Watson.
A 24-year-old man received severe facial injuries when he was allegedly accosted by up to eight men on Park Avenue at 2 a.m. Saturday after celebrating his birthday inside Ponchatoula’s Restaurant.
Watson said the case was much more complicated than the accounts that have circulated on social media.
“We have conducted about nine interviews,” Watson said, “which provided conflicting statements. We continue to investigate to sort out the details.”
Watson said none of the suspects identified so far are Lincoln Parish residents or Louisiana Tech students but are acquaintances from Claiborne, Jackson and Webster Parishes who gathered in the area. Some are juveniles, he said.
Police were not notified of the incident until they were called to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center emergency room about 4 a.m. when friends took the victim in for treatment.
Watson said preliminary investigation indicates the man was kicked in the face once he was down, causing his most serious injuries. A GoFundMe account has raised close to $10,000 with a goal of $20,000 to help pay his medical bills.
“Most of the employees of Ponchatoula’s had departed before it occurred,” Watson said. “Workers in the back [of the restaurant] were unaware of the incident outside.”
Watson acknowledged the concern about the serious injury that has prompted some outrage on social media. He issued a statement Monday, reading in part, “Please know that we are treating this matter with the utmost urgency. Our department is committed to pursuing justice on behalf of the victim and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. We ask for the public’s cooperation as we continue this investigation. If you have any information, no matter how minor it may seem, we urge you to come forward.”
Watson said in addition to the criminal investigation, the police department had identified the need for more lighting in the area where the incident occurred.
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