A Winnfield man is in custody facing multiple felony charges following an overnight manhunt that began after a shooting on Oct. 1, according to the Winnfield Police Department.
Andrew Smith, 43, of Winnfield, was arrested and booked into the Winnfield City Jail. He faces charges of aggravated battery, aggravated second-degree battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, criminal damage to property, and trespassing.
Officers initially responded Oct. 1 to the Winn Parish Medical Center emergency room after receiving a report of a gunshot victim. The victim, identified as Michael Foster, 35, of Winnfield, told investigators he had been pistol-whipped in the head and shot in the arm during an altercation in an open field between Hodges and Halsey streets. Foster identified Smith as his assailant before being transferred to another medical facility, where he remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Investigators processed the scene of the shooting and launched a search for Smith, who is believed to be unhoused and frequently transient. Officers learned Smith had fled the area on a bicycle, which police later recovered at a residence on Lucky Avenue.
Believing the suspect had barricaded himself inside, Winnfield police requested assistance from outside law enforcement agencies to surround and secure the home. After several unsuccessful attempts to establish contact, officers entered the residence and determined Smith had already fled.
The search continued through the night, with officers checking numerous abandoned properties based on community tips. During the early morning hours, police responded to a resident’s report of suspicious noises coming from a neighboring abandoned house on South Jones Street. Officers entered the structure and took Smith into custody without incident.
Winnfield Police Chief Johnny Ray Carpenter commended the agencies that assisted in the search and credited community members for helping resolve the situation safely.
“Chief Carpenter extends his sincere appreciation to the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, and especially to the citizens who provided timely tips to the department,” the agency said. “Their cooperation led to Smith’s capture without further danger to the community.”