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| Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson |
Willie Robertson, star of the iconic "Duck
Dynasty" reality television series, was left shaken Friday after his
estate in West Monroe, Louisiana, where many of his family members are also
staying, was sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting.
"We were pretty shook up," Robertson said in a
Sunday interview with USA TODAY Network. "It looks like they were just spraying
bullets across my property."
Robertson told the News Star that about eight to ten shots
were fired from the road into his gated estate. One of the shots went through
the bedroom window of the home where his son, John Luke Robertson, lives with
his wife, Mary Kate McEachern, and their infant child. No one in the Robertson
family, however, was injured.
The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has since arrested West
Monroe resident Daniel King Jr., 38, in connection with the shooting. He has
been charged with one count of aggravated assault by drive-by shooting and one
count of criminal neglect of family. His bond was set at $150,000.
Police say they responded to a report of someone shooting
from a vehicle in the 3300 block of Arkansas Road in West Monroe at
approximately 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses described seeing a white over brown or beige Ford
F-250 with large aftermarket tires and rims being driven by suspects during the
attack, according to USA today. Before shots were fired at 2:33 p.m., the truck
had passed by the property at least once, Robertson said.
"It was broad daylight," Robertson said, noting
that he believes the suspects were well aware they were shooting at his
property. "I'm 100% certain, but I don't know why," he said.
Robertson explained that while many of his extended family
members are currently living on his estate during the pandemic, thankfully, no
one was outside when the shooting took place. "Nobody was outside at the
time, but everybody had been out about five minutes before," Robertson
said. "I had just gone to the store when it happened."
In 2013, “Duck Dynasty” became the most watched reality show
in history when a staggering 11.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the
premiere of the fourth season of the backwoods reality series on A&E. It
ended in 2017 after 11 seasons.
Among the total number of viewers were 6.3 million "in
the advertiser-preferred demographic of 25- to 54-year-olds," according to
a New York Times report.
"Duck Dynasty” chronicled the lives of members of the Robertson
family of West Monroe and their duck call making company, Duck Commander.
The men of the family, brothers Phil and Si, and Phil's sons
Jase, Willie, and Jep, became popular for their signature beards. Phil
Robertson started the business in a family shed and spent 25 years making duck
calls from Louisiana cedar trees.
"The Robertsons represent a lot things we as Americans
cherish," David McKillop, the general manager and executive vice president
of the A&E network, told The New York Times: "self-made wealth,
independence, three generations living together."