Alleged shooting in Houma leaves family member dead; suspect held on $2.2-million bond
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Houma man has been charged with second-degree murder after a family member was found fatally shot on Aug. 11.
Police identified the accused as Kasen Patrick Verrett. According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, deputies responded just before 8 p.m. to the 3700 block of Grand Caillou Road, where they located a man who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a local hospital. The victim later died of his injuries.
Investigators allege Verrett used an AR-15–style rifle taken from under the front seat of a vehicle during an argument. The release says Verrett admitted to retrieving the weapon and firing multiple rounds as the victim began to walk away.
“It is important to emphasize that although the juvenile was present in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, the subsequent investigation determined that he had no involvement in the criminal actions associated with this incident.”
The sheriff’s office said a juvenile was riding in Verrett’s vehicle at the time. Detectives interviewed the youth and determined he was not involved in the crime. Investigators also say telephone calls the juvenile made to family members immediately after the shooting were integral to the investigation.
“Those communications ultimately proved to be vital to detectives and greatly assisted in establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the release said.
Verrett was booked into the Terrebonne jail on charges including second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and unlawful possession or handling of machine guns. He was held on a $2.2-million bond, according to the release.
What authorities have said and the immediate fallout
The sheriff’s office statement provides the outline of the investigation: deputies found the injured man on Grand Caillou Road; the victim was rushed to hospital; detectives interviewed witnesses and the juvenile in the vehicle; and an admission by Verrett to using the rifle formed a central piece of the case.
No name for the victim was released in the news release. The office did not provide further details on any potential motives beyond describing an argument in a parking lot.
- Date of incident: Aug. 11 (deputies responded just before 8 p.m.)
- Location: 3700 block of Grand Caillou Road, Houma
- Accused: Kasen Patrick Verrett
- Charges: Second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, handling of machine guns
- Bond: $2.2 million
Police accounts indicate the investigation relied on both witness interviews and statements made by the accused. The sheriff’s office said detectives questioned Verrett about the incident and obtained his admission that he fired the weapon.
Legal and community implications
Second-degree murder and related charges carry heavy penalties; the accused will remain in custody while the case proceeds through the local judicial system. The involvement of a juvenile as a witness — present in the vehicle but later cleared — highlights the broader community impact of violent incidents and the importance of careful investigative work with potentially vulnerable witnesses.
At this stage, the sheriff’s office has presented its findings to support formal charges. Further details, including any court dates or additional evidence, were not included in the release. Residents seeking updates should monitor statements from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office and local court filings as the case moves forward.
This investigation is one of several recent violent incidents in the parish that have prompted concern among residents and local officials about public safety and gun violence. As the criminal process continues, questions about motive, the circumstances that led to the argument, and the identities of those involved remain subject to police inquiry and prosecutorial review.
