Last evening a suspect approach the Catholic priest at St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in Melville, asking for food. According to witnesses, when the priest denied him, the man began attacking the priest with a machete.
The priest was rushed to a local hospital and treated for lacerations to his head and body. He remains in critical condition.
St Landry Parish Sheriff’s office arrested a suspect who they now have in custody. The man is identified as Johnny Dwayne Neely, 58 of Palmetto, LA. Neely is charged with attempted second-degree murder, hate crimes, and home invasion. He was transferred from Melville to the St. Landry Parish jail in Opelousas.
Melville Police Chief Phillip Lucas told news outlets the department is treating the attack as a hate crime since it was reported the suspect stated he “wanted to kill a black man today.” Melville police have reached out to the FBI for assistance in the investigation.
This is an ongoing investigation and updates will be reported as more information becomes available.
