Sheriff: Man shoots estranged wife, turns gun on himself

Shooting on Highway 27 (Source: Facebook)

CARLYSS, LA (KPLC) - A Kirbyville, Texas, man who had come to Carlyss to kidnap his estranged wife and child instead shot his wife then turned the gun on himself - in front of their 5-year-old daughter, authorities said.

"It's very sad, it's unfortunate that a child has to see or experience this but it's part of a fact of life sometimes," Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso said.

Brandi McAdams, 33, of Carlyss, was killed by Cody McAdams, 38, of Kirbyville, Texas, according to investigators.

The Sheriff's Office first received a report of a man breaking into a house on La. 1133, near La. 27 around 8:15 a.m, Mancuso said. Minutes later they received a call from a homeowner in the area, reporting a man and woman trespassing on his property.

It is believed that Cody was attempting to kidnap the two at gunpoint from her parents' house and were in a pasture behind her parents' house when the report of trespassers was made, Mancuso said.

Several deputies responding witnessed a man and woman walking through the pasture with a child, Mancuso said. When deputies arrived, Cody shot Brandi and shot at a patrol car, striking it three times.

"He fired on our deputies and our deputies fired back," Sheriff Mancuso said and added "He may have shot more and they didn't hit the car but three of them definitely hit the passenger's window. He was definitely shooting to hit the deputy."

As a deputy in another unit returned - shooting one round - Cody shot himself in the head, Mancuso said. The Coroner's Office confirmed that Cody shot himself in the head and a non-lethal, graze would on his right arm was likely from the deputy's shot.

Brandi was pronounced dead at the scene and Cody was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The girl was unharmed.

Authorities had received several calls of domestic violence against Cody, including one made Wednesday night. The Sheriff's had requested an arrest warrant for him at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Sheriff's Office will investigate the woman's death, but the Louisiana State Police will investigate the man's death because it was an officer-involved shooting.

"You know we do that because we feel like there is no appearance of any wrongdoing on our part but unfortunately, two people are dead in this instance," Mancuso said.

Mobile users click HERE to watch an interview with Mancuso and to see more photos.

Nearby Vincent Settlement Elementary was briefly put on lockdown following the shooting.