Shootings, fatal and non-fatal, made crime news in Port Arthur in 2017.

The city saw five homicides, two of which were allegedly committed by a close family member.

Here’s a look at last year’s homicides:

• Peter Tran, 23, of Port Arthur, was shot to death May 15, 2017 at a home in the 2000 block of Woodrow Drive.

His father, Lam Xuan Vo, 45 at the time of the incident, was charged in the death that reportedly happened during a home disturbance.

A probable cause affidavit issued for the arrest of Vo showed the man and his son had gotten into a fight on the night of May 15 in the garage at the home. Vo reportedly told police he broke loose from his son and got into the home and retrieved a firearm. He then went back into the kitchen and stood at the door that leads to the garage and told police, “he could see Peter, his daughter and wife on the other side of the door.”

He then fired a shot to scare his son.

The bullet struck his Peter Tran, killing him.

Police believe Vo was reckless when he fired the gun, knowing his son was on the other side of the door, according to the affidavit.

Vo was initially charged with murder and bond set at $500,000 but the charge was changed to manslaughter and corresponding bond at $100,000. He bonded out of jail May 19, 2017.

• James Nathan Arcenceaux Jr., 17, was shot to death June 5 while in the 1000 block of Liberty Avenue.

A motive for the shooting is not known. Police received information of possible gang activity but could not confirm this, a representative of the Port Arthur Police Department said in an archived story.

Police also believe there was evidence the shooting was possibly done in self-defense.

A case against Kylan Bazile, described as a friend of the victim, was presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office and a grand jury gave a “no bill” on July 19, meaning Bazile was not indicted for a crime.

• Ronnie Wayne Jacobs, 34, of Port Arthur, was shot to death in a stolen vehicle outside Louis Manor Apartments on July 20, 2017.

His brother, Isaiah Onasso Jacobs, 28, was arrested about 12 hours after the incident and charged with the murder. He claimed the shooting was in self defense.

Officers were initially called to the complex for an automobile accident. When they got there, they found the driver unresponsive. He was sent to The Medical Center of Southeast Texas where he was pronounced dead a few hours later, according to an archived story.

“During the course of the investigation officers found several bullet holes in the body of the vehicle. Medical personnel later identified a gunshot wound in the victim’s upper body. The victim died about three hours later.

Police said Isaiah Jacobs voluntarily went to the Port Arthur Police Department and made a statement about the death of Ronnie Jacobs and was placed into custody.

Other media at that time reported that the license plates on the vehicle the victim was in were reported as stolen.

This is not the family’s first brush with tragedy. Ronald Jacobs Sr., the father of the two men, was reported missing and had not been seen since Nov. 1, 2016. He was 68 at the time of his disappearance and is dependent on a cane due to a stroke. According to an archived story, his cane and all the rest of his belongings were left behind at his home in the 300 block of Gulfway Drive. He does not suffer from any cognitive issues.

The case remains under investigation and police said they are still working with family members to solve the case, which has been reassigned to a major crimes unit, police said recently.

Persons with information about the disappearance or whereabouts of Ronald Jacobs Sr. are asked to call PAPD at 983-8680 or Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 833-TIPS.

• Joseph Lindley, 28, of Port Arthur, was shot to death at Villa Main Apartment complex Sept. 25, 2017.

He had been found unconscious on a sidewalk and later died from a head injury later determined to be a gunshot wound.

The case remains open and active and police are continuing the investigation.

• Javonte Jack, 20, of Port Arthur, was shot to death Nov. 7 at Avery Trace Apartment complex.

Diante Malik Burrell, 20 at the time of the incident, was arrested the next day after a foot chase from a Fourth Street home.

Bond was set at $1 million.

A probable cause affidavit for Burrell’s arrest claims that police responded to a shooting at Avery Trace Apartments, 4120 FM 364 and found Jack shot several times in the chest. He was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont where he later died from his injuries.

A witness told police that two black men, both carrying guns, were seen leaving the complex in a vehicle.

Tips came in that led police to a home in the 4100 block of Fourth Street. When officers arrived Burrell reportedly fled the home with a gun and a chase ensued. Burrell allegedly threw a handgun over the nearby seawall into the ship channel before being arrested by police.

Dive teams responded and the gun was found the next day.

Police are currently waiting return of some evidence submitted to the crime lab. The case is still open and police are looking to arrest a second shooter.

 

Apartment complex, other shootings

Throughout the year the city saw a number of non-fatal shootings, some of which led the city to place a police task force at Louis Manor Apartments in the 1300 block of Joe Louis Avenue.

• In January 2017, Kaleb Deand’re Angelle was arrested at Prince Hall Apartments in connection with multiple shootings in the city.

Police ran into problems when witnesses failed to cooperate in identifying Angelle as a suspect. He was taken into custody for felon in possession of a firearm and the case is pending trial.

• On Feb. 16, 2017, Decarlos Valcin, then 24, of Port Arthur was taken into custody on outstanding felony warrants in the 3900 block of 35^th Street at his grandmother’s home on a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity. Police believe he may be connected to a shooting that left two people injured at Louis Manor Apartments in the 900 block of West 14^th Street.

Police believe Valcin was part of one of two groups of people who got into an altercation prior to the shooting that afternoon.

Officials were unsure, according to an archived story, of how many rounds were fired during the incident but more than 20 rounds/shells were found at the scene in the 900 block of West 14^th Street.

Valcin is currently awaiting trial.

Police believe there were two suspected shooters.

• On June 22, 2017, a clerk at a game room located at 3741 25th St. was shot as she closed the business.

Less than a week later a person was shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries during an armed robbery at Lucky Zone game room in the 4500 block of Gulfway Drive.  The department as of this time is still investigating both incidents.  No suspects have been identified; the case is ongoing.

• June 7, 2017, two people were injured during a drive-by shooting at Villa Main Apartments, 901 Main Ave.

Police have received no cooperation from witnesses as to identifying the suspect and the case remains under investigation.

• Oct. 19, 2017, two children suffered gunshot wounds while in their bedroom in a second-floor apartment at Louis Manor Apartments.

The children, ages 3 and 4 years old, were hit by gunfire in the legs, according to news reports.

The shooting angered city and police and less than a week later a task force was created with federal law enforcement partners that has led to a decline in violent crime.