Luling shooting suspect has lengthy criminal history

A Boutte man is behind bars in Jefferson Parish after gunshots rang out in the 500 block of Kellogg Drive in Luling at 8:30 Wednesday morning.

“The first arriving officers observed a white male getting into a pickup truck,” St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. James Grimaldi said. “The subject, later identified as Tyler Dufrene, fled the scene in the pickup truck. After refusing to stop for emergency vehicles, who were pursing him with their lights and sirens, several sheriff’s office deputies followed the vehicle into Jefferson Parish, but lost sight of the suspect’s vehicle. St. Charles deputies notified JPSO and requested their assistance.”

Dufrene, 22, shows a current address of 202 Schmill Street in Boutte. Grimaldi said it is known that his family resides in the 500 Block of Kellogg Street.

“Deputies made contact with several victims in the 500 block of Kellogg Drive, who were both friends and family members of the suspect,” Grimaldi said. “It was learned through witness statements that Dufrene was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend and refused to let her leave his residence. During the incident, the girlfriend was able to exit the residence and entered a vehicle with her young child, which was occupied by a family member of the girlfriend. As this occurred, Dufrene allegedly produced a firearm and fired it in the direction of his girlfriend’s vehicle.”

Tyler Dufrene

Grimaldi said after shots were fired, one of Dufrene’s family members tackled him and a brief physical struggle occurred.

“The family member was able to disarm Dufrene and ultimately secure the weapon,” Grimaldi said. “During this altercation, the family member sustained minor scratches and injuries consistent with witnesses’ description of the incident. Witnesses stated that Dufrene then entered a separate family member’s vehicle, without permission, and fled the scene as deputies arrived.”

Deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Westwego Police Department located and pursued the stolen vehicle occupied by Dufrene.

After Dufrene subsequently crashed the vehicle on Lapalco Boulevard in Westwego and fled into a wooded area, he was placed under arrest and transported to University Medical Center where he was treated injuries sustained during apprehension.

Currently Dufrene is in custody of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office on charges that include aggravated flight from officers and possession of stolen property.

“The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office is honored to have such a great working relationship with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Westwego Police Department,” Grimaldi said.  “It’s always great to work hard hand in hand in assisting with these investigations and we’re very appreciative of their help.”

Grimaldi said Dufrene will eventually be transferred to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office for active warrants related to Wednesday’s incident. Those include including false imprisonment, two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated criminal damage to property, simple battery, theft of a motor vehicle and aggravated flight from an officer.

“Had Dufrene’s family member not intervened and disarmed him during the altercation with the firearm, there is no telling how this may have turned out,” Grimaldi said. “We are very appreciative for this family member’s heroic efforts.”

Dufrene has a criminal history that includes several violent criminal charges, including armed robbery, attempted murder, narcotics-related charges, disturbing the peace by fighting and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In 2018 a grand jury declined to indict Dufrene and another local man. Each were charged with second degree attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a Nov. 21, 2018 incident in which a man was shot in the back on Luling Estates Drive.

Dufrene was arrested in Texas for that incident after nearly seven months of being sought by police.

 

About Monique Roth 919 Articles
Roth has both her undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism, which she has utilized in the past as an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University and a reporter at various newspapers and online publications. She grew up in LaPlace, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters.

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