Shooting Leaves 5 Dead in 2 Louisiana Parishes, Gunman at Large

Police in Louisiana reports two shootings that took place on Jan. 26, 2019 in two parishes have left five people dead. There is no suspect in custody.

Officials say the shootings happened in the Livingston and Ascension parishes located 70 miles west of New Orleans.

Sheriff Jason Ard from Livingston Parish wrote a  Facebook post saying there were three deaths in his parish on Saturday. The victims were identified as Summer Ernest, Tanner Ernest, and Billy Ernest.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office also reported in a Facebook post two people were shot and killed in the city of Gonzales shortly before 9 a.m. on Jan. 26. The victims were said to be a husband and wife, Keith and Elizabeth Theriot, both 50 years old. The couple’s 21-year-old son Dakota is wanted by authorities on two counts of first-degree murder, home invasion and illegal use of a gun in relation to both shootings.

Allison Hudson, Ascension Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, reported that investigators believed the shootings were connected and the jurisdictions are working together to find the suspect.  Authorities say Dakota Theriot is driving a gray and silver 2004 Dodge pickup truck and is considered armed and dangerous.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

KTLA 5: Gunman Still at Large After Shootings in 2 Louisiana Parishes Leave 5 Dead, Officials Say
WAFB 9: 5 dead in multi-parish shooting spree in Louisiana; suspect identified
CNN: 5 dead after shooting spree in Louisiana

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Jimmy Emmerson’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License