TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. — Melanie Wheat was driving to her Ponchatoula home on Monday evening when she noticed something alarming as she turned onto her street, Madison Lane.
“When I pulled in initially, there were cops everywhere, and I was like, ‘What happened,’” said Wheat. “Once I pulled on the road, I could see the house taped off like it was a crime scene.”
It was a neighbor’s house, where state police say a shooting left Warren Burton, 20, dead.
“Scary, to come home with that knowing I have two kids and not knowing what happened,” said Wheat.
According to state police, Tangipahoa Parish deputies showed up after being called to the house. Neighbors say there was a domestic dispute inside.
State police say when deputies tried to take Burton into custody, he grabbed a gun and refused to put it down. That’s when state police say he pointed it at the deputies. One of the deputies fired a shot.
“In my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Wow, this doesn’t happen here,’” said neighbor Martin Berhel. “It’s so quiet here.”
Berhel was inside his home when he heard what sounded like a single gunshot.
“I heard a pop, a loud pop noise,” said Berhel. “Then I poked my head out, and I saw the lady running out, saying, ‘Call the ambulance; they shot him; they shot him, they shot him.’”
Burton died at the scene. Several neighbors who’ve seen Burton say mental health may have played a role in what happened.
“I’ve also seen him out at different times, so you could tell he might have some issues,” said Berhel.
State police say deputies were not injured, and the shooting is still under investigation.
WWL Louisiana reached out to Louisiana State Police and the Tangipahoa parish sheriff’s office for more information about the shooting and the status of the deputy who fired the shot. As of Tuesday afternoon, neither agency responded.
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