Abbeville man murdered two years after his son was murdered

First the son, Paul Rice was murdered on the streets of Abbeville two years ago and the killer is still at large. On Thursday night at around 10:30 p.m., his father 51-year-old Paul Plowden was gunned down in his driveway at his home on Fairview Street in Abbeville.
The Abbeville Police Department and Acadian Ambulance were called to a house on Fairview Street, located along the Vermilion River in the historical district of the city.
When the police arrived, they found Plowden on the ground next to his car in his driveway. This was the first murder in Abbeville in 2014.
First responders began CPR but were unable to revive him. The Vermilion Pasrish Coroner’s Office was called to the scene where he was pronounced dead.
The police are not releasing a motive for the shooting and are still investigating.
Neighbors heard two shots fired but no one saw or heard a vehicle drive off.
Former assistant district attorney Stanton Hardee heard about the death of Plowden 20 minutes after it occurred.
“Paul had heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back,” Hardee said. “He put other people’s interest ahead of his own. Paul did more than any citizen in Abbeville to take drugs off the streets. “
Hardee said Plowden was upset two years ago when he learned his son was killed over drugs. The father wanted to do all he could to help get drug dealers and users off the streets of Abbeville.
It also may have gotten him killed. Plowden testified in a handful of cases that sent drug dealers to prison since the death of his son.
Over time, that may have caught up to him.
“He was a courageous man, and a hero in my mind because he testified boldly in open court as a state material witness,” Hardee added. “I beg anyone who has information to please the call the police department This case will be chalked up as another unsolved murder unless someone comes forward. Abbeville police cannot solve murders without information.”
The Abbeville police are asking if anyone has information on the shooting, they can call 893-2511.