Authorities search for suspect after 5 killed in Louisiana shootings

Two sheriff’s departments in Louisiana are hunting for a suspect after five people were killed in two shootings Saturday morning.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Facebook that authorities were searching for 21-year-old Dakota Theriot, who is wanted in connection with the murder of his parents Elizabeth and Keith Theriot in Ascension.

{mosads}Dakota Theriot is also suspected to be the shooter who killed three members of the Ernest family in Livingston Parish: Billy Ernest, Tanner Ernest, and Summer Ernest, according to the Livingston sheriff’s department.

“We do not believe the suspect to be in Livingston Parish at this time. 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,” Sheriff Jason Ard of Livingston Parish wrote in the department’s Facebook post.

“The Ascension sheriff’s office is working on an investigation of a domestic incident that was reported to us this morning,” added Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre during a press conference.

“[The suspect] has not been apprehended yet but we do have a warrant for his arrest for two counts of first-degree murder,” Webre added.

Theriot is believed to be heading east toward Mississippi, Webre told reporters Saturday, adding that the 21-year-old is considered to be armed and dangerous.