Man found shot to death on street in Opelousas

A 32-year-old Opelousas man was found shot to death in the street at a residential intersection about 7 p.m. Friday.

The victim, identified as Eric Harrison, was pronounced dead at the scene.

He had been shot twice in the chest and was found lying in the roadway at the intersection of Planters and Hattiesburg streets near a railroad crossing.

Opelousas police arrived at the scene shortly after Harrison was found, and an unruly crowd gathered near the body. Several in the crowd began taunting and yelling at police officers as they waited for the coroner and an ambulance to arrive.

Among the group were family members who complained that Harrison’s body was allowed to remain in the street for some time until the coroner arrived.

Others were chiding police for not solving the case, with one man shouting, “They can’t figure out who shot my dog. How are they going to solve this?”

“It’s understandable for family members to be upset,” said Police Chief Perry Gallow. “It’s a tragedy. Someone is dead, and I know they don’t want us to leave their loved one in the street, but we have to wait until the coroner arrives and examines the body.”

Some of the onlookers were not relatives of the deceased, Gallow said.

“A number of people’s motives in criticizing the officers were just to hinder the investigation.” he said.

“People should realize that we’re trying to solve a crime, and shouting at us is only slowing us down.”

Gallow said no arrests had been made early Saturday, but investigators have several leads in the case.

“Somebody has to have seen something or heard something,” he said. “We’re asking that anyone who has any information about this shooting please come forward.

“They can remain anonymous. Just call us at 337-948-2500.”

Photographer Freddie Herpin contributed to this story.