Fatal Shooting in Bush Area Being Investigated

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a fatal shooting, which occurred early Friday (August 26, 2022) morning in the Bush area.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m., STPSO deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 79000 block of Railroad Avenue in Bush and located a male deceased in the front yard with what appeared to be gunshot wound(s).

The occupants of the residence, a male and a female, told detectives they were inside their home when they heard someone outside. Upon the male occupant exiting the residence, he was physically confronted by a known male and a physical altercation ensued. The female exited the residence armed with a shotgun and shot the man.  They then called 911 to report the incident.

The deceased’s body was turned over the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office for an autopsy and a positive identification. St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Charles Preston later identified the man as Jacob Thomas, age 39 and who had no fixed address. Preliminary cause of death is a gunshot wound to the chest and manner of death is homicide.

The incident is still under investigation and no additional information is available at this time.