New Orleans man charged after shooting at Southern University

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A New Orleans man was arrested Friday after firing a gun on Southern University’s campus in 2022.

According to an arrest warrant, the Southern University Police Department was responding to a call about shots being fired near the dormitories on March 22, 2022. Witnesses reported a group of people arguing in U.S. Jones’ parking lot. Shortly after, they reported hearing four shots, someone scream ‘No,’ and more shots.

After reviewing surveillance footage, officers saw two people running behind a vehicle, one pointing a gun at two additional people who appeared to be shooting back, and the other was seen holding a gun, squatting behind a car.

The warrant states that both subjects ran toward the on-campus apartments, going up the stairwell. Further investigation showed one of the subjects, who appeared to be a female, entered a suite on the second floor. Shortly after, she could be seen leaving and heading to a suite on the first floor. Both suspects were later seen in different clothes.

Witnesses were able to identify the male subject as “Draco,” or Jeffery Vappie III, 22.

Vappie was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of illegal use of weapons, four counts of aggravated criminal damage to property, and carrying of a firearm on school grounds in a firearm-free zone.

He was released on the same day, having posted a $25,000 bond, according to jail records.

Vappie is the son of a former New Orleans Police officer, Jeffery Vappie II.

The elder Vappie has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he filed fraudulent payroll documents and made false statements about an alleged romantic relationship with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

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