Metairie man was allegedly killed over $80
A Luling man has been arrested and charged with the murder of Metairie’s Ryan Dubuc, whose body was found in Hahnville after he was shot to death Monday.
Jerel Anthony Smith, 31, of 1034 Luling Estates Drive in Luling, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, use of a firearm and car jacking. His bond has been set at $3.5 million dollars.
At a Wednesday (Jan. 11) press conference, St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said Dubuc was “robbed and brutally murdered for as little as $80.”
Dubuc, 28, was shot multiple times and his body found lying on along an access road of La. Highway 3160 in Hahnville at 9:45 a.m. Plant workers discovered his body near a wastewater treatment plant. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time, Dubuc had no identification on him and was identified later that day.
The Sheriff’s Office mobilized an intense investigation that led to Smith’s arrest this morning (Jan. 11). Champagne said a S.W.A.T. team arrested Smith at his mother’s residence.
At the press conference, authorities said they believe Dubuc left his residence in Metairie around 5:30 a.m. Monday headed to work at Cornerstone Chemical in Jefferson Parish. Dubuc stopped at Birdie’s Food and Fuel on River Road in Luling and used the ATM to withdraw $80.
After withdrawing cash, Dubuc was approached by Smith. Detectives do not believe the two knew each other. However, Smith got into Dubuc’s truck and the two left together. Authorities are not sure whether Dubuc allowed Smith into his truck willingly.
Shortly after they left the scene, Dubuc was allegedly shot four times in the head at close range.
Dubuc’s vehicle, a 2006 GMC Sierra, was reported missing and then found that night stuck in the mud in a sugar cane field in Belle Pointe Subdivision in LaPlace.
Champagne confirmed said a “great deal of blood was found” in Dubuc’s truck.
Detectives believe Smith robbed another person, also a plant worker, at the same gas station on Dec. 29 around 4:30 a.m. A witness told police that Smith approached a man with a gun and that they struggled before Smith fled the scene. Champagne said Smith faces a second charge of armed robbery based on this incident.
Champagne said surveillance video also showed Smith was a frequent visitor of that Birdie’s store in Luling.
The investigation is still ongoing.
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