Two Jailed, One Wanted in Pontchatoula Incident

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards reports that DaJuan Thompson was located by the Baton Rouge Police Department on May 13, 2020, booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, and moved to the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on May 15, 2020. Thompson was charged with auto theft, burglary, and attempted second degree murder.

DaJuan Thompson (18), Michael Carney (18) and a 17-year-old male were identified and linked to a string of vehicle burglaries, one auto theft, and for shooting at a man in The Havens Subdivision on Highway 445 in Ponchatoula on May 6, 2020.


Numerous home surveillance videos show the three subjects entering the neighborhood around midnight and immediately begin pulling on car door handles in an attempt to gain access. An alert homeowner interrupted the trio at one residence. Upon being confronted, one of the subjects fired shots upon the resident as they fled away on foot. The homeowner returned fire. The trio then located a nearby vehicle - unlocked with the keys left inside – and took as a get-away-ride. They fled at a high rate of speed heading toward Walker, LA. Later that morning, the Walker Police Department observed the stolen vehicle inside the City of Walker. As officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver increased in speed and fled from deputies. The subjects traveled recklessly at accelerated speeds into the City of Baton Rouge where the driver lost control and crashed the stolen vehicle. Two occupants were injured as a result of the crash. Detectives later learned that the third suspect was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Michael Carney was taken into custody, after being released from the hospital, on multiple counts of burglary and one count of second degree attempted murder.

Warrants had been obtained for the 17-year-old juvenile connected in this case.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Walker Police Department, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Baton Rouge Police Department for their assistance in the recovery of the stolen vehicle. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office also reminds residents to remain vigilant when it comes to protecting personal property. Always lock your car doors and keep valuables out of sight.