BATON ROUGE, LA — A Baton Rouge mechanic was arrested after police say he shot a customer in the hand and wounded two kenneled dogs during a confrontation at a Scenic Highway auto repair shop. Arrest records identify the man as Clifton Edwards, 54, and say the dispute happened when the customer came to pick up his vehicle on Oct. 10.

The Facts

• What: Police say a mechanic shot a customer and two dogs during a dispute at an auto repair shop.
• Where: Edwards Auto Repair Shop on Scenic Highway in Baton Rouge.
• When: Oct. 10, according to arrest records.
• Who: Clifton Edwards, 54, was arrested; police say the victim came to retrieve his vehicle.
• Charges: Two counts of cruelty to animals, plus aggravated battery, illegal use of a weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Status: Edwards was arrested after the incident; records say he has prior convictions.

What police say

According to arrest documents, the customer told police he argued with Edwards because the vehicle had not been repaired and tools had been taken from it. The disagreement escalated inside or near the shop before shots were fired.

Police say Edwards grabbed a shotgun and fired two rounds into the air. He then allegedly pointed the weapon at the customer and shot him in the right middle finger.

Investigators say shrapnel from the blast also injured two dogs that were in kennels behind the customer. One dog was shot in the leg and the other was hit in the abdomen.

Edwards told police he took the man’s tools because of an unpaid debt and said he fired because he believed the customer was armed. He also said he did not mean to hit the dogs.

The investigation

In cases like this, detectives usually work from statements given by the people involved, injuries documented by medics or officers, and the physical scene. A weapon, spent shells, damage to property and witness accounts can all become part of the file.

Here, the arrest records provide the backbone of the case, including the alleged sequence of events and the injuries to the customer and animals. Authorities have not said in the available records whether additional witnesses were interviewed or whether any other evidence was collected.

When an arrest follows a shooting allegation, investigators often compare each person’s account against the injury pattern, location of wounds and recovered firearm. That helps prosecutors decide what charges to file and what facts can be proven in court.

What the charges mean

Aggravated battery generally refers to intentionally causing serious bodily harm or using a dangerous weapon in an unlawful assault. In Louisiana, prosecutors can pursue that charge when a weapon is used in a violent confrontation.

Illegal use of a weapon is typically filed when a firearm is discharged in a dangerous or unlawful way. A possession-of-a-firearm-by-a-convicted-felon charge is separate and focuses on whether a person with a qualifying criminal record had a gun at all.

Cruelty-to-animals charges can apply when an animal is injured or killed through intentional abuse or reckless conduct. Because there are two dogs involved, the records list two counts. The exact penalties depend on the case facts, prior record and how prosecutors proceed.

What happens next

Edwards’ case will move through the parish criminal court process, where an initial appearance, bond issues and later hearings can follow an arrest. Prosecutors will review the police file and decide how to proceed on each count.

Records say Edwards was previously convicted of aggravated battery and attempted simple burglary in 2024, a history that may matter at later hearings. No court date was included in the available information.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).