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.
Hunter Army Airfield, GA — The Commander of Hunter Army Airfield has issued an emergency lockdown order for the installation.
All personnel are instructed to immediately secure their facilities, remain indoors, and ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked.
Individuals are advised to:
- Stay inside their current location.
- Lock all windows and doors.
- Keep phone lines open for emergency communications.
- Monitor official social media channels for real-time updates.
- Report accountability to their chain of command.
An “All Clear” notification will be issued once the situation has been resolved.
Outbound traffic is now permitted through designated gates; however, each vehicle is subject to thorough inspections.
This applies only to individuals who were already inside their vehicles prior to the update.
All other personnel should remain stationary and avoid unnecessary movement within the installation.
Additionally, Pulaski Elementary School, located near Hunter Army Airfield, has been placed on precautionary lockdown as a safety measure, according to the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.
Further details will be provided as the situation develops.