Double Murder/Suicide In Rural Louisiana

"PALMETTO, LA — The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has released details about a Sunday incident that left three people dead.

"The sheriff’s office received a report of a homicide Sunday in the 600 block of Joseph Road in Palmetto. When officers arrived, they found two women dead inside a vehicle. Each victim appeared to have multiple gunshot wounds.

"The women were identified as Burnella McKinght Rideau, 43, of Palmetto, and Jeannette Oliney, 47, of Opelousas.

"A man was found outside the vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head. He was identified as Ransome Rideau, 45, of Palmetto.

"An investigation indicated that Ransome Rideau got into an altercation with his wife, Burnella Rideau. Ransome Rideau then allegedly fired multiple shots into the vehicle occupied by the two women. Several shots hit both women, police said.

"Ransome Rideau then left the home and went to the 100 block of Veazie Street in Palmetto, where police said he confronted Hertley Andrus. Ransome Rideau then got into a physical altercation with Andrus. Andrus was able to wrestle the handgun away from Ransome Rideau.

"During the altercation, the gun went off, striking Rideau in the hand. Rideau then fled back to the initial scene. Once there, police said Ransome Rideau used a .12-gauge shotgun to shoot himself in the head, resulting in his own death."

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