KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Two Men Arrested for Attempted Murder

Two Men Arrested for Attempted Murder

September 6, 2007
Reported By: Lee Peck

Nestled in the woods of central Moss Bluff, Tanglewood Drive is by all accounts a quiet neighborhood. But it was here around 1 a.m. Wednesday that Calcasieu sheriff's detectives say 18-year-old Robert Willis and 25-year-old Jesse Graham began a crime spree. The sheriff's office says both men have a long criminal record and knew the game well. They say one of them knocks on the door, asking to speak with someone, while the other hides nearby.

"They asked the homeowner to speak with someone, he said nobody lives here by that name... And then one stepped around the corner with a shotgun. At that point, the homeowner who had a gun, pointed the gun at them and they fled," said Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso.  

Detectives say the two then stole a car and made their way 7 miles across town to Cherokee Drive, where two motorcycles caught their eye. But there was one problem, they had no keys. Plus they were being watched by a neighbor. When the neighbor confronted them, he was allegedly forced at gunpoint to knock on the homeowner's door.

"The neighbor was forced at gunpoint to knock and try and wake his neighbor up. He ended up fleeing and then the homeowner wouldn't open the door. So the suspects ended up taking off but not before shooting the door and narrowly missing the homeowner of that residence," said Mancuso.  

By this time deputies were on the scene and saw the suspects flee in the stolen car. A chase ensued. Mancuso says, "They actually dismantled the shotgun while the police were chasing them and threw the parts out the window."

After getting rid of the weapon, the men ditched the car and fled on foot. Detectives brought in the dog, eventually catching up with Graham, while Willis was caught a short time later at his grandparents' home.

"We're very fortunate that no one was hurt," said Mancuso.

Both men are being held in the Calcasieu Correctional Center on 140-thousand dollars bond. Mancuso says Willis was out on bond for aggravated burglary from a similar incident back in February, when he attempted to enter a home and rob a female at knife point.

Both Willis and Graham now face charges of attempted first degree murder, second degree kidnapping, aggravated burglary, obstruction of justice, theft over $500, reckless operation and flight from an officer.