Dakota Theriot Suspected of Mass Murder in Louisiana Arrested

Police arrested on Jan. 27, 2019 Dakota Theriot who is accused of killing five people, including his girlfriend and parents, in two different Louisiana counties.

Authorities say Theriot shot and killed three people on Jan. 26 in Livingston Parish, including a woman it is believed to have been his girlfriend. After the murder, he stole a truck and drove to the neighboring town Ascension Parish, drove to his parents home and shot and killed them.

Sheriff Bobby Webre, from Ascension Parish, said in a press conference said it was the worst case of domestic violence he has seen in a long time.

According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, police arrested Theriot in Richmond County. He will be transported to Ascension Parish and booked on illegal use of weapons, home invasion and two counts of first-degree murder. Theriot is also accused in Livingston Parish of theft of a motor vehicle and three counts of first-degree murder.

Richmond County Sheriff Stephan Smith said Theriot’s grandmother fled to a hotel because she was scared her grandson would seek her out at her home in Warsaw, Richmond County. The woman asked the police to inspect her home on Sunday to ensure it was safe for her to return.

Theriot arrived at the home of his grandmother while law enforcement was there, Smith said. Theriot was armed, but taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff Jason Ard from Livingston Parish said in a news conference on Jan. 26 Theroit first killed his girlfriend Summer Ernest, 20 years old, her father, Billy Ernest, 43 years old, and her brother Tanner Ernest, 17 years old.

Charlene Bordelon, the Ernests’ neighbor, spoke with the Advocate telling the publication the two youngest children of the family ran to her home after the shooting. Both children were under the age of 8 and were not shot. Bordelon called 911 after she was told by the children their sister, brother and father were killed.

After the murder, Theriot stole Billy Ernest’s truck and drove to Ascension Parish. He went to his parent’s home and shot and killed his mother Elizabeth, and father, Keith, while they were in their bedroom. Both individuals were 51 years old.

Police arrived at the scene and found Theriot’s parents alive who identified their son as the shooter. They were brought to the hospital and later died.

Ard said that they do not know the motive and there were no warning signs. He also said Theriot had an arrest in Livingston Parrish for a misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

NPR: Louisiana Police Arrest Man Suspected Of Killing Parents, Girlfriend and 2 Others
CNN: Suspect in five Louisiana shooting deaths captured in Virginia
USA Today: Dakota Theriot, suspect in 5 killings in Louisiana, arrested in Virginia

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