Last Thursday, authorities in Hammond, Louisiana, arrested a 46-year-old Independence man suspected of killing two Hammond residents. The killings reportedly took place earlier in the day on Thursday.
The suspect was booked on two counts of first-degree murder, a charge with carries the possibility of capital punishment or life imprisonment in Louisiana.
Police have accused the man with shooting the victims in their bedroom on Thursday morning. The 37-year-old female victim apparently died at the scene, while the 39-year-old male victim was fatally wounded, and died at a local hospital after being transported.
The suspect is believed to be the former boyfriend of the female victim.
No signs of forced entry were found at the apartment, and investigators have proposed that the suspect entered with a key. The case, however, remains under investigation.
There are several situations where an individual can be charged with first-degree murder in Louisiana. The first is in situations where an individual had the specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm on the victim while engaged in certain felony crimes, including aggravated rape, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, second degree kidnapping, first and second-degree robbery.
An individual can also be charged with first degree murder for killing certain types of people, including police officers, children under 12 or those over 65 with specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm. A third situation where such charges may arise is in cases where more than one person has been killed.
It goes without saying that first-degree murder charges are very serious, and that those facing such charges should not hesitate to contact an attorney to secure the best possible defense.
Source: The Advocate, “Suspect in custody in double homicide,” Bob Anderson, April 7, 2012.
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