UPDATE: Car stolen from murder victim in Chalmette on Tuesday night found burned out under the St. Claude bridge in New Orleans; Sheriff’s Office believes man shot to death may have been targeted

The car stolen from a murder victim in Chalmette on Tuesday night was found Wednesday night burned out under the St. Claude bridge in New Orleans, Sheriff James Pohlmann said, and authorities continue trying to identify the men involved.

New Orleans police saw smoke coming from under the bridge ramp on its eastern side and found a silver Chevrolet Impala on fire. New Orleans firefighters extinguished the blaze.

The license was still on the car, which was identified as the vehicle Keith Guerra, 30, of New Orleans, was driving on Palmisano Boulevard in Chalmette before he was killed just after 7 p.m. and the vehicle stolen, the sheriff said.

The car has been turned over to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office Head of Operations Col. John Doran has said Guerra was shot in the chest by one of two men, who according to witnesses, had rear-ended his car, got out and argued with him and a passenger in Guerra’s car, then fled in both vehicles after the shooting. The two were in a light-colored SUV, possibly a Ford.

Doran also said it is believed Guerra may have been targeted by robbers who took his vehicle.

“This wasn’t random’’ and the assailants may have followed Guerra and the passenger from New Orleans or knew where they were going, Doran said.

Authorities aren’t releasing the name of the second man who is a witness. That man suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Doran also said the passenger in Guerra’s car was using illicit drugs at a location in eastern New Orleans during the day Tuesday and called Guerra and asked him for a ride back to Chalmette, where he lives with his father.

It was the first homicide of the year in St. Bernard Parish.

Anyone with information on the murder should call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.