New Orleans Family Fights at Alabama Church Over Gas Money

Associated Press
Published: September 4, 2008

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The stress to find gas money to return
to Louisiana led to a family fight in a Montgomery church parking.
    Two sisters staying at the Vaughn Park Church of Christ shelter
began fighting Wednesday because one would not give the other more
gas money. Samantha Williams and her older sister, Roxanna,
caravanned to Alabama from Louisiana to escape Hurricane Gustav.
    During the scuffle, Roxanna’s boyfriend, Don Duplessis, punched
Samantha and sliced two tires of her SUV with a knife.
    Montgomery Police charged 27-year-old Duplessis with harassment
and was being held at the city jail on $500 bond.
    Church officials say many evacuees have exhausted their money
and need funds to return home. They say they will replace William’s
two flat tires.
    FEMA spokeswoman Debbie Wing in Washington said she was unsure
if the agency’s financial aid included gas money.