Authorities say a man suspected in two shootings that left five people dead in Louisiana has been arrested in Virginia.
Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in a statement that 21-year-old Dakota Theriot was arrested Sunday by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Stephan B. Smith says Theriot was arrested when he showed up at his grandmother's house.
Smith said that Theriot's grandmother had spent the night in a hotel because she feared her grandson might come to her home in Warsaw. He said the woman asked authorities to check her home Sunday morning to make sure it was safe before she went home. While deputies were there, Smith said, Theriot drove up. Smith said Theriot had a gun on him but he dropped it and was taken into custody without incident.
Law enforcement think that Theriot began the murder spree at his girlfriend’s Livingston Parish home, where he had recently been living. His 20-year-old girlfriend, Summer Ernest, her 43-year-old father, Billy Ernest and her 17-year-old brother, Tanner Ernest were all shot to death at that location.
Two young children were also at the home but were unharmed and ran to a neighbor’s house to report the shootings.
It's believed Theriot then stole a pickup belonging to Billy Ernest and went to the home of his parents – Keith and Elizabeth Theriot, on Churchpoint Road in Gonzales - and shot them both. Keith Theriot was still alive when first responders arrived, and apparently identified his son as the shooter.
Dakota Theriot was arrested and charged with second degree battery in Jefferson Parish in November of 2017.
Neighbors of the Theriots reported several recent shouting matches at the home. Sheriff Webre said Dakota Theriot was recently booted out.
Theriot appears to have a Facebook page filled with defensive and sometimes angry posts.
A Facebook page that appears to belong to Theriot shared a post in June saying "wish i could clear my mind jus for one day" (sic) with a sad face emoji.
In May, he shared a post saying "If you have a problem with me, tell me. Not everyone else."
Another shared post says, "I don't care what people say about me I know who I am and I don't have to prove anything to anyone."
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard and Sheriff Webre said Saturday night that Dakota Theriot was “not on their radar.”
“There were no red flags,” said Ard. “We don’t have a motive.”
Theriot will be brought back to Ascension Parish and booked on two counts of first-degree murder, home invasion, and illegal use of weapons.