BAKER – Two men who allegedly shot a woman with a nail-loaded flare gun after she refused to give up her purse face several charges.

The robbery attempt occurred near Walmart on Plank Road in Baker.

Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps said about 9:46 a.m. on July 21, officers received a call from a woman who said she had just been held up at gunpoint by two armed suspects and then shot.

According to Knaps, the victim had just made a purchase at the r Walmart and was walking home when two men approached her and demanded her purse while brandishing an orange-colored gun. The woman said when she refused, one of the suspects opened fire, striking her as they fled on foot.

After the victim was able to positively identify Jasper Bivens, 17, of Baker, he was apprehended a short time later and taken into custody without incident.

Bivens told detectives the orange gun was in fact a flare gun that had been loaded with nails to be utilized as an extra projectile.

Bivens also implicated Patrick Piper, 26, of Plaquemine, as the second suspect.

Knaps said a short time later, when Piper was apprehended by BPD uniform patrol officers and taken into custody, it was discovered during his arrest that he is currently on federal probation for an unrelated offense.

Bivens was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and charged with attempted armed robbery, attempted second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.

Piper was also booked into EBRPP and charged with attempted armed robbery, attempted second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.