BREAKING: Search continues for armed suspect who threatened Jennings High employees

Published 12:40 pm Monday, April 15, 2024

A heavy police presence continues near a wooded area east of Jennings High School and Interstate 10 as police search for an armed suspect who entered the school early Monday and threatened employees.

Classes were canceled as law enforcement spent much of the morning reviewing surveillance videos, collecting information and searching the area for the suspect by both ground and air.

The suspect has been identified by police as Dillion Champagne.

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Champagne is believed to have entered the school around 4:30 a.m. while a custodian was emptying trash, according to Superintendent John Hall.

Jennings High school was not targeted, but was located near where the suspect ran out of fuel on the interstate, according to Hall.

No students were in the school at the time and only a handful of staff members, he said.

The suspect is believed to have exited the school after changing clothes and confronting employees who were walking on a nearby track.

The suspect fired a gun into the air before fleeing into the wooded area.

No injuries were reported.

As a safety precaution, additional security was sent to James Ward Center for Excellence, Jennings Elementary School, Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School and the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Homes.

Residents are asked to stay clear of the area unless necessary.

Anyone who sees something suspicious in the area is asked to contact the Jennings Police Department at 337-821-5500, ext. 500.