HOLDEN, La. — A man shot his estranged wife, son and 2-year-old grandson to death and seriously wounded his pregnant daughter-in-law at their rural home, then killed himself as police tried to pull over his car 20 minutes later, authorities said.
The pregnant woman later gave birth to a healthy boy, about three months early, her father said.
The shootings late Saturday appeared to stem from an ongoing dispute between 50-year- old Dennis Carter Sr. and his wife, Donna Carter, who had a restraining order against him, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief of Operations Perry Rushing said Sunday.
Another 16-month-old boy was in the house during the shootings but was not hurt.
Authorities were called about 10:30 p.m. Saturday to the home in Holden, about 30 miles east of Baton Rouge. Donna Carter, 49, and Dennis Carter Jr., 26, were dead inside. Dennis Carter Jr.’s wife, Amber Carter, was badly hurt, and their son, Masson Carter, 2, was found dead outside.
Rushing said it appeared Amber Carter, who was about six months pregnant, and Masson Carter managed to escape from a second-floor window, but it was not clear whether the gunman shot them inside or followed them outside and shot them there.
Rushing said deputies spotted Dennis Carter Sr. about 20 minutes after the shootings driving on a highway. When they tried to pull him over, he shot and killed himself.
After the shootings, Amber Carter gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Aubrey, Williamson said. He said she was taken initially to a Baton Rouge hospital and later was transferred to a hospital in New Orleans.
