A late-night dispute outside the Waffle House on Highway 30 in Gonzales ended in a triple shooting after midnight on May 21, 2022. Willie L. Bridges, 19, of Metairie, was found with gunshot wounds in the restaurant parking lot, taken to a nearby hospital, and died of his injuries. Two juveniles were also shot; one was taken to a hospital in stable condition and the other was reported in critical condition.

Authorities described the attack as stemming from an ongoing dispute rather than a random act, saying the shooter appeared to have a specific target and that Bridges and the two juveniles were caught in the crossfire. The shooter fled the scene before police arrived; no suspects were publicly identified and no arrests had been announced as of the last update.

Anyone with information about the shooting or about those responsible for Willie Bridges’ death is asked to contact the Gonzales Police Department.