NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Authorities say shootings in two parishes in Louisiana have left five people dead. Authorities took a suspect into custody Sunday morning.
Officials say the Saturday morning shootings happened in Ascension and Livingston parishes, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of New Orleans.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said two people were shot to death in the city of Gonzalez. The victims were identified as 50-year-old Elizabeth Theriot and her husband, 50-year-old Keith Theriot. Their 21-year-old son Dakota Theriot was being sought by authorities on first-degree murder charges, illegal use of weapons, and home invasion. He was found Sunday morning in Richmond, Virginia.
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard confirmed on Facebook that three deaths happened in his parish on Saturday. Those victims have been identified as Billy Ernest, 43, Tanner Ernest, 17, and Summer Ernest, 20.
Ascension sheriff’s spokeswoman Allison Hudson says authorities believe the shootings in the two parishes are connected, and investigators from both jurisdictions are working together.
"We do not believe the suspect to be in Livingston Parish at this time," Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said. "We are working in conjunction with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office as we believe our case is connected to a homicide investigation in that parish. Our investigation is ongoing"
