Authorities are looking for Dakota Theriot after two Saturday morning shootings in Ascension and Livingston parishes, near Baton Rouge. The suspect is being sought in connection with the deaths of Billy Ernest, 43, Tanner Ernest, 17, Summer Ernest, 20, and Keith and Elizabeth Theriot, both 50. The first three victims were found inside a mobile home in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, US, on Saturday morning.
The Theriots were found inside their home in nearby Gonzales.
Police said the man’s father was still alive when they arrived at the house and claimed Dakota was the gunman.
Commenting on the attack, Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre said: “This is probably one of the worst domestic violence incidents I’ve seen in quite a while.
“For a young man to walk into a bedroom and kill his mother and his father, and then kill friends in Livingston that he had a connection with.”
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The suspect has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, illegal use of weapons and home invasion, Mr Webre told reporters.
He said: “Dakota Theriot lived there for a brief period of time but was recently asked to leave the residence and not to return.”
At least one of the Livingston victims was a friend of Theriot’s, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the shootings.
The shootings happened about 70 miles west of city New Orleans.
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook to appeal for information from the public.
Sheriff Jason Ard said: “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.”