By JIM BUTLER

Gatloyn Blue may be many things — thug, intimidator, violent felon — but a sprinter he is not.

When Blue elected to run as Rapides deputies and U.S. marshals showed up at his hiding spot last week the chase was short but anything but sweet for the alleged gunman.

Blue has been at large since last Halloween night. 

According to RPSO, a large disturbance happened that night in the 1900 block of Hwy 71 South (near Prescott Road), where several batteries were committed on two victims. 

As the victims waited for law enforcement to arrive, a car occupied by two people entered the parking lot.

The occupants exited the vehicle with a handgun and began to run toward the victims, who fled the area with the suspects pursuing them down the road. 

The victims’ vehicle was struck by gunfire shortly after. At the time, there were two adults and three juveniles in the victims’ vehicle, but no injuries were reported.

Subsequently two women and a man were arrested and the search for Blue began.

Blue, held under $330,000 bail, is charged with five counts of attempted 1st degree murder. Additional charges include false imprisonment 2 counts, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy 2 counts. Details relative to those accusations have not been released.

Blue’s Rapides rap sheet includes five arrests involving firearms charges dating to 2019. 

His most recent arrest was last July when he was charged with failing to seek assistance for a person in need of immediate medical care.