Zydeco musician Chris Ardoin is shot in the back and suffers 'moderate' injuries while performing at Louisiana music festival
A Zydeco musician was shot in the back while performing at a music festival in central Louisiana on Friday, his wife confirmed on Facebook.
Chris Ardoin was performing as the headliner at Zydeco Bike Fest when he was shot, his wife, Kerri, posted on his official Facebook page early Saturday morning.
'Yes, unfortunately tonight he did get shot in the back on his right side while on stage,' she wrote. 'Doctors said thankfully he´s a built guy.
'The bullet didn´t penetrate his lung and stopped near his ribs. We are currently in the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers and will update you all later!!! Thanks.'
Chris' brother, Sean, who is also a zydeco musician, posted on his personal Facebook page later in the day Saturday that Chris was doing well and resting safely at home after a brief hospital visit.
'God is faithful and praise Him that the bullet is “safely” lodged in soft tissue in his back and is not a threat, Sean wrote. 'Thank you your prayers and concern - we’ll all believe that it will just be a reminder of how blessed he is and will never move from its resting place nor cause him discomfort in Jesus name.'
Chris Ardoin, a third-generation zydeco musician, was shot in the back while performing at a Louisiana music festival on Friday. He is pictured in May 2008 performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festval
His wife, Kerri, confirmed reports that he was shot in a Facebook post on his page, and said that the bullet did not penetrate his lungs
Sean Ardoin later posted that his brother was doing well and was recovering at home
The shooting happened in Colfax at Louisiana Mudfest, an ATV and mudding park, The Arcadian Advocate reported.
Ardoin was slated to perform as the Friday headliner, with Lil Nate and the Zydeco Big Timers scheduled to play Saturday night.
Lil Nate posted on Facebook on Saturday that his group had canceled their performance. The remaining event for the Zydeco Bike Fest were also canceled shortly thereafter.
Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain told the Advocate that deputies responded to reports of a shooting at the event at around 1 a.m., and two people were struck by gunfire - including Ardoin and a 14-year-old.
Both victims reportedly suffered 'moderate' injuries, but an update on the child's condition was not available.
Ardoin was the headliner at the Zydeco Bike Fest on Friday when the shooting occurred
McCain said two men - Ajontae Brown and Zachary Thomas were arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm at the event, after jumping on the running boards of a truck attempting to leave the venue, and pointing their weapons at the occupants.
The truck was in a lineup of several hundred vehicles attempting to flee through the venue's one exit as people fled in panic following the shooting.
It is unclear whether they were involved in the shooting.
Investigators, meanwhile, said they collected 20 shell casings from several areas throughout the venue and will analyze them to determine whether one or multiple guns were used.
Their initial investigation, they said, indicates that there were multiple shooters, according to KLFY.
Ardoin comes from a long line of Zydeco and Creole musicians, the Advocate reports, including his grandfather, Alphonse 'Boise Sec' Ardoin; his father, Creole accordionist and bandleader Lawrence 'Black' Ardoin; and his brother, Sean, who has been nominated for Grammy Awards twice.
The brothers formed their own band, Double Clutchin, and began releasing music in the 90s, before they decided to split up and start their own solo careers.