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Abbeville Police is searching for D’Jacqney “Poppy” Mitchell after his alleged involvement in a shooting Monday in Abbeville that left one man dead and another man injured.
A suspect is wanted in connection to a shooting Monday night in Abbeville hat left one man dead and another man injured.
On Monday at 8:30 p.m., officers of the Abbeville Police Department, responded to a shooting on the 1600 block of Martin Luther King Drive. While en route to the call officers gave chase to a vehicle with emergency flashers which turned out to be someone rushing a victim to Abbeville General Hospital. A second victim was also transported to Abbeville General Hospital.
The first victim, Jarrian “Nu Glizzy” Bernard, a Black Male, 20, of Abbeville, received three gunshot wounds, one to the left shoulder, one to the right shoulder and one to his right wrist. Bernard was pronounced dead at 8:52 p.m.
The second victim, Johntrell Rice, 26, of Abbeville, received two gunshot wounds, one to the center of his chest and one to his left shoulder. Rice was later transferred to Ochsner’s Lafayette General Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.
From information received at the scene, officers found that a large group of people were shooting dice under the pavilion at Herod Village Apartments when one of the players pulled out an illegally modified firearm, giving it fully automatic capabilities. He fired a couple of bursts of rounds, injuring the two victims.
The suspect Mitchell, a Black Male, 20, remains at large. Warrants will be issued for one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree Murder
Chief of Police Mike Hardy and the Abbeville Police Department would like to thank everyone that assisted us in this investigation.
This case is still actively under investigation and Chief Hardy urges the public to provide any further information regarding this crime or any other crime by calling the Abbeville Police Department at (337) 893-2511. You may also contact our “Tips” line at (337) 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Vermilion by calling (337) 740-TIPS or the P3 app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or at Google Play Store.

Photo taken by Judy Johnson
The new 2024 Gueydan Duck Festival Queen, Robin Alyssa-Grace Peavy.

Abbeville High School senior wide receiver Derek Arclies worked for three and a half years to crack the starting lineup, and during last Friday’s scrimmage, he finally did it – at defensive end.
 Arclies measures at 6’5.  As a freshman, putting him at receiver was a no-brainer.  He’s tall, athletic, and has enormous hands.  But he never could get to first string.
  “I was in my head too much,” Arclies explained.  “On offense, you have to worry about so much.  On defense, you just run through people and attack the ball.”
Arclies’ defensive aspirations were born in the week of practice leading up to the scrimmage.  He didn’t practice defense though.  He was still a second-string wide receiver.  He just expressed his desire to do whatever it takes to get on the field.
“I had asked Coach Zenon if I could try defense because it’s my senior year,” Arclies said.  “I played offense my whole life.  I felt I needed to do something to get a starter position.”
During the scrimmage, Arclies caught a touchdown pass with the second-string offense. When he came off the field, head coach Johnathan Zenon told him to get back out there — as the first-string defensive end.
   “I got on the field and said to myself, ‘I don’t know how to play this position at all,’” Arclies said.  “I’m sure Coach wouldn’t get mad if I just busted through the line.
“The offensive lineman wasn’t a small person, but I’m way stronger than I look, so I went up confidently. When I busted through, the coaches were fired up, yelling that’s how you do it, Arclies! So, I just kept doing it.  Eventually, I learned to look for the ball and finished with four tackles.”
 This week, Arclies is no longer the second-string wide receiver.  He’s now the starting defensive end.  Zenon credits his work ethic and offensive knowledge for his success on defense.
“This guy gives 110 percent in everything he does,” Zenon said.  “Friday, he went on the defensive side, having never played it at all, and he did exactly what we needed him to do.”  
“At receiver, he had to block, so he knows how to use his hands.  He also knows how to watch the ball.  On offense, he sees the ball move, and he’s gone.  That jump off the ball gives him a huge advantage on defense.”
Zenon said it’s a testament to his character that Arclies stuck it out as long as he did.  He’s happy that his hard work is finally paying off, even though it doesn’t look how he thought it would.  He also believes that Arclies’ body type, 26 ACT score, and work ethic could land him a scholarship by season’s end.
“He never gave up,” Zenon said.  “That’s something we preach.  He’s very tough mentally because he did everything that was asked of him, and he still didn’t get an opportunity.  Now he’s on the defensive side and has a big role.
“I’m very proud of him.  I’m excited to see what he does this season.  I know he’s going to do great things.  If he keeps playing the way he’s playing, I see him getting a scholarship at the end of the year.”