Army vet texts ‘Bye bye a-holes’ shortly before firing on Ashton Plantation home

Armed with a gun, a Molotov cocktail and two cans of gasoline, a Luling man fired nearly 40 rounds at the residence where his estranged wife was staying with her parents around 4 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 2).

William A. Canada Jr., 30, was charged with three counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Greg Champagne said Canada’s wife had been alerted to the possibility that he might come to the residence at 103 Lac Verret Drive in the affluent Ashton Plantation Subdivision, also in Luling.

“Due to text messages sent to Canada’s estranged wife, which raised concerns, the victim’s father spent the night in the living room out of caution,” the sheriff said. “At approximately 4 a.m. this morning, the victim’s father observed Canada on the porch of the residence with two gas cans and a Molotov cocktail.”

Shortly before the attack, Canada texted his wife with the message, “Bye Bye A-holes.”

Earlier that day, Canada had also visited his recently sold home in Chalmette. The new homeowner reported to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office that he had been drinking and acting erratically, which resulted in an alert issued for Canada’s whereabouts and a warning to his estranged wife.

By 4 a.m. that morning, her father spotted Canada on the front porch, who immediately responded with a hail of gunfire – as many as 40 rounds – with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun fired into the house.

The father fired back, up to five shots, until he was struck in the chest, the sheriff said.

Canada fled the scene, but Champagne said deputies’ quick response to 911 calls resulted in his arrest while still in the subdivision.

Detectives found the Molotov cocktail and cans of gasoline in Canada’s truck.

A later search of his residence at 122 Lake Carolyn Drive for possible bomb equipment turned up nothing.

Upon arrest, Champagne said a background check revealed the Luling man was a U.S. Army veteran who had been suffering with depression and withdrawal since he entered drug rehab in April.

Canada was dealing with an addiction to painkillers from head injuries he sustained from an IED that exploded while on duty in Afghanistan.

After starting rehab, Champagne said the man’s marriage of two years deteriorated and his wife filed for divorce on July 22. Canada’s behavior also became increasingly erratic, raising concerns.

The father-in-law, 59, was treated at University Hospital and released.

 

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