Louisiana Parish Shootings Leave 5 Dead

Authorities seek Dakota Theriot, the son of 2 victims
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 26, 2019 3:20 PM CST
Louisiana Parish Shootings Leave 5 Dead
Investigators work the scene of a shooting in Livingston Parish in Louisiana. Authorities in Louisiana say a shooting has left five people dead in two parishes.   (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP)

Authorities in Louisiana say separate but related shootings in two different parishes have left five people dead. A suspect was at large and was being sought, the AP reports. Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre told a news conference that deputies were called to a trailer in the city of Gonzales for a "domestic incident" on Saturday morning. Upon arrival, deputies found two people who had been shot but were still alive: Elizabeth and Keith Theriot, both 51. Webre said deputies were able to interview one of the victims before they were transported to a hospital in Baton Rouge, where they later died. From that interview, authorities identified the couple's 21-year-old son, Dakota, as "our prime suspect in this case."

He is being sought on first-degree murder and other charges. Webre said Dakota had lived with his parents briefly but was asked to leave the residence and not return. He is considered armed and dangerous and was driving a stolen 2004 Dodge Ram pickup, gray and silver in color. The sheriff said three other shooting deaths occurred Saturday in neighboring Livingston parishes, about 70 miles west of New Orleans. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard confirmed on Facebook that three deaths happened in his parish and identified the victims as Billy Ernest, 43; Tanner Ernest, 17; and Summer Ernest, 20. A sheriff's rep says authorities believe the shootings in the two parishes are connected. In a separate case, NBC News reports that Georgia authorities are seeking Daylon Delon Gamble, 27, for two double homicides committed Thursday in Polk County. Gamble is also considered armed and dangerous.

(More shooting stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X