Mark Henderson

mhenderson1@thenewsstar.com

A family member of the owners of Kiper Hardware & Lumber is fighting for her life and a suspect has been arrested in a shooting early Saturday morning in Winnsboro.

Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb would identify the victim only as a 22-year-old woman, but postings to Kelly Kiper Longoria's Facebook page by family members, friends and her church indicate Longoria is the victim.

The postings report Longoria was shot in the head. Cobb said the victim was stabilized at Franklin Parish Medical Center before being airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital. She is in critical but stable condition.

Being held on a $1 million bond is Kevin Q. Mathis, 35. He has been booked on attempted first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping and is being held at the Franklin Parish Detention Center.

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Longoria is an employee and family member of the owners of Kiper Hardware & Lumber. Her father, Ernest A. "Trey" Kiper, served as president of the company until his death in November. He was also president of the board of directors of Winnsboro State Bank and was an active member of the Winnsboro Lions Club.

Longoria is a graduate of Franklin Academy and is a Monroe resident. She is married to Shane Longoria.

She was on the way to work when she stopped at a convenience store, Cobb said. She was abducted at the store and was taken to outside Gesthemane Cemetery, near Terry Wallace Memorial Park in Winnsboro, where she was shot.

Cobb said his department executed numerous search warrants and talked to multiple witnesses. The sheriff's office is being assisted by the Winnsboro Police Department and Louisiana State Police. Cobb said he requested the state police crime lab to process the crime scene.

"Tthis is a great tragedy for Franklin Parish," Cobb said. "The young lady and her family are extremely active members of our community. He ask for prayer for her and her family in this extremely trying time."

Mathis has a past criminal history that includes simple burglary, felony theft and aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.