[StBernard] Man who pleaded guilty to charges related to a shootout in Violet last year found Tuesday with shotgun, crack cocaine, authorities say

[Westley Annis]

Man who pleaded guilty to charges related to a shootout in Violet last year
found Tuesday with shotgun, crack cocaine, authorities say
Print Michelle Hunter, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Michelle Hunter,
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
Email the author | Follow on Twitter 
on October 17, 2013 at 12:36 PM

A man who pleaded guilty to gun charges following a shootout in Violet last
year was found on Tuesday with a shotgun, a pistol and a large amount of
crack cocaine, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office.
Deputies arrested Keith Thompson, 22, at his home, 3219 Daniel Drive,
Violet, Sheriff's Office Spokesman Steve Cannizaro said.

Detectives were patrolling the neighborhood, investigating the Oct. 11
murder of Joseph "Blue" Cosse, 30. Cosse was shot to death in the 2800 block
of Tara Drive in Violet. Cannizaro said some of those detectives on Tuesday
accompanied officers from the state Department or Probation and Parole to
conduct a compliance check on Thompson.

Thompson is on probation after pleading guilty to an unspecified gun charge
related to a Dec. 13 shootout in Violet. No one was injured in that
incident.

Deputies and officers who entered Thompson's home Tuesday found the shotgun,
the pistol and 17 grams of crack cocaine worth about $1,700, Cannizaro said.
Authorities arrested Thompson and booked him with probation violation, being
a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in connection
with drug activity and drug possession with the intent to distribute.
Thompson was being held without bond at the St. Bernard Parish Prison.

Cannizaro said investigators are looking into the connection between Cosse's
murder and the Oct. 8 shooting death of 19-year-old Truy Jones. A gunman
murdered Jones in the 3100 block of Daniel Drive. 

Jones death was first murder in Violet since January 2009, Cannizaro said.
St. Bernard investigators arrested Grid Riddick, 18, and booked him with
second-degree murder in the case.

Anyone with information about the murder of Joseph Cosse is asked to call
the Sheriff's Office 504.271.2501. The public can also call Crimestoppers at
504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. Tips can be texted to C-R-I-M-E-S
(274637); text TELLCS then the crime information. Callers or texters do not
have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for
information that leads to an indictment.