VILLE PLATTE, LOUSIANNA — A man was shot in both legs while allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who had earlier obtained a restraining order against him. Officials with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office say that the woman came to their office in the early morning hours and told them that she had shot her ex-boyfriend. According to officials, she had an active restraining order against him because of previous domestic violence incidents involving the two.
She stated that he kicked in the front door of her home, came to the bedroom, and attempted to forcibly remove her clothes and sexually assault her. The woman’s child, responding to the commotion, came into the room. After grabbing and putting the child in another bedroom, the ex resumed the assault.
By that time, the woman had armed herself with a small-caliber handgun and managed to shoot her assailant in the leg. He physically struggled with her and attempted to gain control of the gun, and she shot him in the other leg. He eventually gained control of the firearm, fled the house, and drove himself to a local hospital seeking treatment of his gunshot wounds.
The man was identified as Jean McNeil Joseph of Ville Platte and he was taken into custody by detectives following his release from the hospital. Despite having a gunshot wound in each leg, he denied all allegations regarding the incident.
His denial did not stop officials from charging him with violation of protective orders, criminal damage to property, home invasion, false imprisonment, battery of a dating partner, child endangerment, attempted second degree rape, and theft of a firearm. Joseph is currently a no-bond resident of the Evangeline Parish Jail.
