Baton Rouge, Louisiana turned quiet and heavy on Wednesday morning after a deadly incident inside Afton Oaks Apartments on Newcastle Avenue left two people dead.
Averia Arceneaux, 33, was found inside the apartment suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency responders arrived too late to save her.
Police say officers were called to the complex around 10:29 a.m. on May 27 after reports of gunfire inside one of the units. When they entered, they discovered both Arceneaux and 29-year-old Johvon McKinley inside the residence.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The apartment quickly became the center of a large police response as the area was locked down.
Investigators believe the case is a domestic violence-related murder-suicide. According to preliminary findings, McKinley is believed to have shot Arceneaux before turning the weapon on himself.
Detectives with the Baton Rouge Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit are still working to piece together what led up to the shooting. No clear timeline of events has been confirmed.
Authorities have not released details about the relationship history between the two or whether anyone else was present in the apartment at the time of the incident.
Friends and family of Arceneaux are now left dealing with a sudden loss, describing her as someone who had a strong presence in the lives of those who knew her.
The apartment complex remained secured for hours as investigators collected evidence and spoke with possible witnesses in the area.
As the investigation continues, the Baton Rouge community is left grappling with another case of domestic violence turning deadly, and a life remembered too soon.
