Louisiana Shootings Leave 4 Dead, 3 Injured in LaFourche/Terrebonne Shootings

On Thursday, Dec. 27, five people were shot in southern Louisiana, approximately 45 miles southwest of New Orleans. ABC News reports that three of the five who were injured have died. The gunman has b...
Louisiana Shootings Leave 4 Dead, 3 Injured in LaFourche/Terrebonne Shootings
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  • On Thursday, Dec. 27, five people were shot in southern Louisiana, approximately 45 miles southwest of New Orleans. ABC News reports that three of the five who were injured have died.

    The gunman has been identified as Ben Freeman, 38. Freeman reportedly went on a brief killing spree, as he committed fatal shootings in three different Louisiana locations in LaFourche and Terrebonne parishes.

    The first shooting was reported around approximately 6:40 p.m. in Lockport, LA. Freeman reportedly attacked his former in-laws with a shotgun. He initially wounded LaFourche Councilman Louis Phillip Gouaux, his wife Susan, and their daughter Andrea. While Councilman Gouaux and his daughter were only wounded, Gouaux’s wife, who was also a Raceland, LA hospital administrator, was dead when deputies arrived.

    PostBulletin reported that the couple has six adult daughters, and Freeman was actually divorced from their daughter Jeanne, whom he married over 15 years ago in 1997. According to Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre, Jeanne Gouaux had actually filed several protective orders against her ex-husband. Freeman also plead guilty to the harassment charges. Webre also stated that Freeman was approximately two years behind in child support payments, and Guoaux’s last protector order expired a little less than a month ago.

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    The second shooting took place in the small city of Raceland, LA. Sheriffs reported that Freeman shot and killed Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital administrator Milton Bourgeois. Then, a third victim was discovered in Terrebonne Parish. The sheriff’s office later identified the victim as Freeman’s current wife, Denise Taylor Freeman. Carolyn Scofield of Fox8 reports that Denise Freeman died of strangulation, due to suffocation and drowning. Scofield also shared the news of Freeman’s autopsy via Twitter.

    Police have not yet released further information on the fourth victim who was killed. However, LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman, Brennan Matherne did confirm that Freeman was found dead in his vehicle.

    Image via Twitter | Carolyn Scofield of Fox8

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