Louisiana Shootings: 5 dead; suspect still at large

Authorities say shootings in two parishes in Louisiana have left five people dead. Authorities identified a suspect, Dakota Theriot, who is still at large.

Officials say the Saturday morning shootings happened in Ascension and Livingston parishes, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of New Orleans.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard confirmed on Facebook that three deaths happened in his parish on Saturday. The victims' identities were not disclosed.

Separately on Facebook, the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said two people were shot to death in the city of Gonzalez. The victims were identified as a husband and wife. Their 21-year-old son was being sought by authorities and was wanted on first degree murder charges.

Ascension sheriff's spokeswoman Allison Hudson says authorities believe the shootings in the two parishes are connected, and investigators from both jurisdictions are working together.

Authorities in Livingston Parish say the suspect is believed to have gone to his parents home after first killing his other three victims, Billy Ernest, 43, Tanner Ernest, 17, and Summer Ernest, 20, in Livingston Parish, south of the city.

A motive in the killings has not been revealed, but authorities believe it was a "boyfriend [and] girlfriend type of dispute".