Police arrest one of 2 suspects in deadly home invasion

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Police say the suspect identified in last Friday's deadly home invasion in Beauregard Town has been arrested. A single mom and her young daughter were shot during the home invasion. It happened in the 600 block of Beauregard Street near Napoleon.

According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, investigators developed information that Aramis Jackson, 20, may have fled to the New Orleans area, where he has relatives.

They said the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force helped identify places Jackson might be hiding and he was found at a home in Violet, LA, which is in St. Bernard Parish, late Tuesday morning.

Detectives said Jackson was taken into custody and will be booked in St. Bernard Parish before being returned to Baton Rouge sometime later in the day. He will be booked on first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated burglary charges.

Detectives said he was named a suspect after DNA found at the crime scene and analyzed by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab linked him to the break-in. They added witnesses reported seeing him carrying a gun and a large flat screen television.

Jackson was arrested in August 2008 at LSU on a firearm charge, which was later dismissed. Then on Oct. 17, 2008, he was arrested by the sheriff's office for entering and unlawfully remaining and simple assault.

From there, Jackson was arrested again on weapons charges in April. He was charged with illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance. He stayed in jail until July on the arrest. He was sentenced to six months, but was eventually released after working out a deal and getting credit for time served.

Baton Rouge police executed search warrants at three different homes Tuesday morning. The homes are located on Arizona, Royal and Myrtle Streets.

The Baton Rouge police helicopter hovered over those areas as the search warrants were executed. The homes were believed to be hiding places for Jackson or perhaps some evidence may have been there.

Evidence was reportedly found on other homes in the neighborhood where the search warrants were executed, which could possibly indicate the violent burglary and murder were random.

Relatives of Aramis Jackson were not happy about the surprise visit they said they received from officers Tuesday morning. The suspect's mother lives at one of the locations searched, but was clearly upset and would not comment on her son's arrest.

However, the suspect's grandmother, Linda Thomas, had a few words to share on the situation.

"If he did that he's wrong because after all, he's got a mother, sister and brothers," she said. "You don't go around and take somebody's life like that. You live by the sword, you die by the sword."

Thomas added she had not spoken to her grandson in three years and the last time she had anything to do with him was when he broke into her home and stole her AK-47 assault rifle.

Police are still searching for a second suspect in the deadly home invasion. He has not been identified, but detectives are diligently combing through the available evidence to find out who the other person could be.

Police brought in a "person of interest" in the case for questioning Tuesday morning. Sgt. Don Kelly said he was one of many people brought in for questioning in connection with the crime.

Allie Engler, 42, was killed in the break-in. Her daughter, Ariana, 9, was shot at least six times but managed to make it to a telephone to call 911.

The little girl is recovering after two surgeries following the shooting. Friends of the family said her grandmother and father were by her side for the second surgery.

The community gathered Sunday evening for a candlelight vigil in memory of Allie Engler and to pray for Ariana's continued recovery.

Neighbors said the main purpose for the vigil was to allow the community to grieve and begin the healing process.

Related Stories

• Neighbors hold vigil for slain mother
• 9-year-old undergoes second surgery following shooting
• Violent home break-in leaves mom dead, daughter shot

Copyright 2010 WAFB. All rights reserved.