LAFAYETTE, La. (KADN) — A 14-year-old is facing charges after allegedly carjacking a man at gunpoint and leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase through Lafayette and Acadia parishes.
The teen was taken into custody after authorities were led on a second chase involving the same stolen car in which a semi-automatic rifle was found inside.
The victim was carjacked at gunpoint by two people just as he returned home, so authorities are now searching for another person. Lafayette police said for safety reasons, they ended the initial pursuit after following the stolen vehicle into Acadia Parish.Â
According to LPD, officers were called to the 600 block of Stevenson Street a little before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, on a report of a carjacking. Investigators said they learned a man returned home and was approached by two men armed with guns after he got out of his vehicle. They added the pair threatened the man, took his keys from him, and sped off in his vehicle.
The Lafayette Police Department received help from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office in looking for the stolen vehicle, which was spotted by officers in the city limits. Authorities said the driver refused to stop when officers tried to pull him over, which led to the first police chase.
Lafayette police said later in the night, officers with the Crowley Police Department and deputies with the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office saw the stolen vehicle.
They added the officers and deputies tried to pull over the vehicle, but again, the driver refused to stop, leading to another police chase. Investigators said during the second chase the stolen vehicle hit a police unit and went off the road. They added the driver then ran off but was caught a short time later.
According to Lafayette police, a teen was arrested and a semi-automatic rifle was found inside the stolen vehicle. The teen's name was not given. Police have not released a description of the second person who carjacked the victim.
The investigation is ongoing.
