A Chalmette man who died in a hail of bullets shot through the front door of a home was apparently not the person the gunmen were hoping to kill, according to St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann

WWL-TV

Bullets holes pierced the front door of home in St. Bernard Parish where Vantrell Bienemy was killed.

Two Plaquemines Parish men were arrested in connection with the killing. Pohlman said the suspects were aiming for the victim’s half-brother who had apparently been involved in a fight with them the night before. Pohlman said it is believed that the fight was over drugs.

The arrested suspects are identified as: Timothy Reddick, 42, of Pointe-a-la Hache, who is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond of $1 million for the second-degree murder charge and $50,000 for a separate burglary charge and Lavell Cross, 21, of Plaquemines Parish but now living in Algiers and who is a nephew of Reddick, was being held in Central Lock-up in New Orleans on Wednesday, Sept. 24. He was expected to be transferred to St. Bernard.

The victim, identified as Vantrel Bienemy, was shot three times shortly after midnight at his half-brother’s home.

That confrontation had apparently been over drugs, Pohlmann said.

Bienemy didn’t have a prior arrest record said Pohlmann, saying, “It’s sad’’ that a young person would be killed over something he apparently had nothing to do with.”

Bienemy, also a native of Plaquemines Parish, had moved to St. Bernard Parish in May from Atlanta where he lived after Hurricane Katrina. “All of the people involved were displaced from Plaquemines Parish by the hurricane,’’ Pohlmann said.

He said the type of crime is disturbing and unusual for St. Bernard Parish.

“We’re not accustomed to this and we are not going to tolerate it,’’ Pohlmann said. “Murder is a difficult crime to prevent but when they occur in this parish we devote all resources to making an arrest.

“It seems the plan was to knock (on the door) and hope the half-brother answered the door,’’ Pohlmann said. After the first knock on the door, the half-brother didn’t answer and also didn’t warn the victim not to go to the door, Pohlmann said. The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t released the name of the half-brother.

Authorities also said small bags of marijuana were found in the toilet of the residence where Bienemy was shot, leading to the conclusion drugs were flushed down the toilet before sheriff’s deputies arrived. No arrest has been made involving the drugs.

Reddick and Cross were arrested separately Tuesday night. Two 9 mm weapons were recovered in connection with Cross’ arrest in New Orleans but it hasn’t been determined which of he arrested men allegedly fired as many as 12 shots, Pohlmann said.

One or more assailants fired through the front door of the DuBarry Street residence, striking Bienemy who had answered several knocks, then quickly closed the door, Pohlmann said. He said Bienemy may have been on his way outside to retrieve a bag that was outside when he saw the assailants and closed the door.

The victim was shot twice in the stomach area and once in the buttocks.

Several other people, including a young child, were in the residence but no one else was injured, Pohlmann said.