Baton Rouge food truck owner, employee arrested in connection to man’s shooting death

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Baton Rouge food truck owner and an employee were arrested and charged in connection to the shooting death of a man.

The body of Perry Louis Demolle Jr., 36, was found with a gunshot to the head by rabbit hunters on Gussie Lane in St. Helena Parish around 8 a.m. Feb. 21. Detectives noted that he was an employee at a food truck in Baton Rouge.

His car was towed for forensic processing on Feb. 24 after it was found abandoned at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. Surveillance footage showed the car parking at the church on the morning of Feb. 19.

Investigators identified Out The Pot food truck owner Jonathan Manning, 33, as a suspect after his luxury car was seen on video at the church parking lot picking someone up. Manning was taken to Louisiana State Police Headquarters for an interview with investigators on Feb. 26.

Manning told detectives that he and his employee Arthur Mcgee, 50, were at the food truck after it closed at around 8 p.m. Feb. 18. Manning said he was in the driver’s seat when he heard multiple shots fired from outside the car.

According to arrest documents, Mcgee got in the front passenger seat and told Manning to drive. After arriving at his home to park the food truck, Mcgee reportedly told Manning to drive him back to the shooting scene. Manning told detectives that Mcgee called him the next morning to ask for a ride.

Investigators believe Mcgee drove Demolle’s car with his body to St. Helena Parish before coming back to East Baton Rouge Parish to abandon the car.

Mcgee was arrested on Feb. 27 and charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Manning was charged with second-degree murder – accessory after the fact.

Louisiana State Police said an investigation is ongoing.

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