The City of Tallulah will be under an indefinite curfew beginning Friday as a result of a rash of deadly shootings throughout the town over the last several months.

“Due to the increased number of random shootings resulting in death, injury and property damage, and increased incidents of loitering throughout the city, the City of Tallulah is imposing a curfew from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. each night beginning Friday,” Tallulah Police Department officials said in a statement. “The curfew will be strictly enforced and only essential movement will be allowed. Violators will be penalized to the extent of the law.”

In September, two deadly shootings took place killing 24-year-old John Ward Jr. of Texas on Sept. 8, and 20-year-old Clayton Crye Jr., of Tallulah, on Sept. 21. The two shootings have, to date, resulted in six arrests. The most recent arrest came last week when Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office (MPSO) arrested 24-year-old Tallulah resident Darrel Dewayne Hester for his alleged involvement in the shooting that killed Crye. Just a week prior to Hester’s arrest, MPSO deputies arrested Armone Wesley, of Talulah, in connection with the death.

MPSO also arrested 23-year-old Marvin Ballett, of Tallulah, last week for allegedly shooting a man in the leg as MPSO and other investigators were on the scene of another fatal shooting at Wyche Apartments on Thomas Street, where one person was killed Thursday, Oct. 24. 

Shootings continued over the weekend when, according to Tallulah Police Department (TPD), Jarren Robinson and Demorien Green were arrested for their alleged roles in a drive-by shootings at approximately 11 a.m. Saturday in the 1400 block of Florida Street. 

TPD also arrested JaQuavion Martin for his alleged role in a shooting on Tank Street Sunday afternoon. 

TPD officials said no one was injured in either of the weekend shootings. Officials with MPSO said that, while some of the recent shootings are believed to have been isolated incidents, investigators believe others are connected.

“The chief of police, the mayor and the city council are in agreement with this action,” TPD officials said about Friday’s impending curfew. 

City spokesperson Yvvone Lewis said Mayor Charles Finlayson believes the curfew is the best course of action and it will be continuously evaluated as investigations move forward.

“It’s just out of an abundance of caution,” Lewis said. “(Chief of Police Buster McCoy) is just trying to curtail movement during those times. If you’re coming or going to work, or if it’s an emergency, it’s going to be fine. But if you are just hanging out, the police are going to, first, encourage you to go home. All the stakeholders are just working together to try and do whatever we can to keep the community safe.”

In the meantime, Madison Parish School District (MPSD) Superintendent Dr. Charlie Butler Jr. has instituted a no-backpack policy at all MPSD schools.

“The school decided they were going to institute the no-backpack policy for the next couple of weeks,” Lewis said. “The superintendent just said he was going to do it  as a precaution, just to make sure nothing spilled over into the schools.”