Crime
Man killed his 1-year-old child then shot himself in St. James Parish
A tragic case of murder-suicide involving a father and his one-year-old child unfolded Wednesday afternoon in Convent, Louisiana, according to Louisiana State Police.
The situation began in St. James Parish shortly after 2 p.m. when deputies from the St. James Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence in Paulina.
A request had been made for a deputy to stand by as a man was expected to arrive at the home to collect his belongings. However, the man never showed up, according to a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Around 4 p.m., deputies returned to the residence after a second call.
This time, a woman at the location asked officers to conduct a welfare check on the man and their child, who were believed to be traveling together in an unknown area.
Investigators then traced the vehicle to Ascension Parish.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Gonzales Police Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, located the vehicle and pursued it back into St. James Parish.
When the vehicle was stopped, officers discovered the driver, a 23-year-old man, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Tragically, his infant child was also found in the vehicle, deceased from a gunshot wound.
The father was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, Louisiana State Police confirmed.
The identities of both the father and child have not yet been released.
The Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation, with assistance from the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Coffee County, Ala. — A homicide investigation is underway after a fatal shooting at a residence near Kinston on Monday morning, authorities confirmed.
According to Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd, deputies responded at approximately 7:51 a.m. to a reported shooting along County Road 483, just off County Road 89 in the Kinston area.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a deceased individual at the scene.
Officials later indicated the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute between two individuals, though additional details have not yet been released.
Authorities identified the suspect as Joseph Levi Jackson, who was wanted in connection with the shooting death of his father.
Jackson was initially reported to have fled the scene on foot and was considered armed and dangerous.
The search involved multiple agencies, including the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Office, Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), including troopers and State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents.
State tracking dogs were deployed as part of the coordinated search effort, particularly near Hattaway Road and Charolais Road, off Covington County Road 89.
Jackson was last described as wearing a black and red flannel shirt, blue jeans, and a black baseball cap.
Law enforcement urged residents not to approach the suspect and to contact 911 with any information.
Following an intensive search, Sheriff Byrd confirmed that Jackson was located and taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities have not yet announced formal charges but confirmed that the investigation is being led by ALEA.
The suspect’s temporary flight prompted Kinston School to delay its opening on Monday morning. School officials later announced a full closure for the day out of an abundance of caution.
In a statement, school administrators thanked local law enforcement for their swift and professional response, emphasizing that the safety of students, staff, and families remains their top priority.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue processing the scene and gathering additional information.