A 22-year-old Louisiana man accused of fatally shooting his mother and grandmother on Easter Sunday has been arrested in Mobile, Alabama, about 150 miles from the scene of the crime. Lee Collins III was taken into custody on Monday after being identified at a mental health facility, according to authorities.
Police say Collins shot his mother, Trenelle Collins, 55, and his grandmother, Mary Major, 75, around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday at the family home in St. Bernard Parish following an argument. He then allegedly tried to shoot his father, but missed. Both women were taken to hospital where they later died.
Investigators believe Collins stole a white 2019 Ford stake-bed truck from a nearby business after the shooting and drove to Alabama. He was taken to AltaPointe Health, a mental health facility, by a neighbouring law enforcement agency. Staff at the facility realised he had given a false name and alerted police.
St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann said Collins had no criminal history and was home-schooled. 'There was no indication of any form of violence, particularly at this level,' he said. Collins will be charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
Neighbour Derrick Alvaris expressed disbelief, saying Collins was 'never known to get into trouble' and that it was 'a sad story that it happened'. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office is working to extradite Collins back to Louisiana.
