Man who was shot Nov. 14 in improved condition

A man who was shot Wednesday night, Nov. 14, in the Chalmette trailer of a man he met that day was improving in a hospital by Friday and the one who shot him was released from jail on a $15,000 bond on a charge of aggravated battery, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

WCeairon Bailey, 33, who had just moved into the same trailer park and introduced himself that day to the man who shot him Wednesday night, was initially in critical condition in University Hospital but he has improved, the sheriff said. He said the gunshot to Bailey’s upper chest isn’t life-threatening. Bailey is from Louisiana but didn’t have a previous address in the New Orleans area, the sheriff said.

William Bentley, 55, of Kiln, Miss., who stays in a trailer in Chalmette when in the area for work, has been released on $15,000 bond on the the aggravated battery charge. Bently was arrested early Thursday after admitting he shot Bailey, who he claimed had walked into his residence while he was asleep, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Bentley called the Sheriff’s Office just before 10 p.m. and said he awoke, saw a shadowy figure standing in his trailer on Laura Drive, grabbed a revolver he had nearby and shot him once, also saying he didn’t know it was the man he had met that day.

Bentley said he and Bailey had been drinking beer and talking for several hours, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Bailey also had been in and out of Bentley’s trailer as they were hanging together but Bentley said at some point as they were outside he told Bailey he was going inside to sleep. Bentley also said his trailer door wasn’t locked.

Bailey, when questioned by detectives at the hospital, claimed Bentley was awake and shot him when he walked into Bentley’s trailer that night.

There were blood drops inside the trailer but Bailey was lying face down outside when sheriff’s deputies arrived, Sheriff Pohlmann said.