12/20/2025
Sheriff Bryan Linder reports that Friday, December 19, 2025, the Franklin Parish Sheriff's Office received a E911 call reporting shots fired at S-Mart No. 2, located on Prairie Road in Winnsboro, at approximately 1450 hours. Upon arrival, deputies discovered an adult male had sustained gun shot wounds. The victim was transported to Franklin Medical Center where he was airlifted to a Regional Trauma Center.
Throughout the course of the investigation deputies identified Kermit Lawrence, DOB 07/24/2006, pictured below, as a person of interest. A short while later a warrant was obtained for Lawrence who was contacted by deputies and turned himself in to our office.
Lawrence is currently being held at the Franklin Parish Detention Center for Attempted Second Degree Murder.
Sheriff Linder states, "This was a senseless act in broad daylight in a public place of gun violence that our office will not tolerate. The investigation remains ongoing. Many thanks to our investigators for working quickly and diligently to bring Lawrence to justice."
