Popular police juror found dead
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: December 16, 2010
A popular Claiborne Parish Police Juror was found dead early this morning in the rural convenience store he owned about a mile from Summerfield, LA., according to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey.
Brian Bruce Bays, 72, was found dead inside Bays’ Country Store on Bernice Road at approximately 7:40 this morning.
Bays, who lived across the street from his store, opened it at 6:30 a.m. so there was little time between the customer who last saw him alive and the one who found him dead and alerted authorities.
According to authorities, Bays was shot, a homicide investigation is being conducted. The Northwest Louisiana Crime Lab is assisting the Claiborne Sheriff’s Department in the investigation.
A spokesman from Bailey’s office reported authorities searching for an older model white Oldsmobile with a damaged front bumper.
Bays was a five-term member of the police jury, and also headed up the Summerfield Water System.
