A child reportedly witnessed a fatal shooting at a residence in the 1300 block of State Highway Alt. 2 on Sunday, according to investigators. Authorities allege that Lacey Mann shot her grandfather, Earl Benson, before chasing the child, who reportedly escaped and was later found unharmed.
Deputies responding to the incident discovered Benson unresponsive with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the arrest report, a deputy stated that Mann allegedly said, “I shot him.” Investigators later found a .22-caliber revolver in the driver’s seat of Benson’s truck. The report indicated that all five bullets in the revolver had been fired and that gunshot residue tests on both of Mann’s hands reportedly returned positive results.
Authorities also said the child described his mother as acting erratically before the shooting. According to investigators, the boy reported that Benson had instructed him to call 911.
Mann was taken to the sheriff’s office for questioning but declined to answer investigators’ questions, according to the report. Authorities further allege that she became combative when deputies attempted to escort her from the interview room, reportedly kicking, screaming and spitting at officers.
Mann is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on charges of second-degree murder and battery of a police officer. No bond has been set.
The incident has left a family facing a devastating loss, with a child reportedly witnessing the death of his grandfather. The allegations remain subject to the legal process, and Mann is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Clarify the child’s role carefullyReduce repeated attribution language
