9:30 p.m. UPDATE:

LARTO, La. — A man police believe killed three people at a Moody Road residence in Larto early Monday morning is still on the run.

Catahoula Parish James Kelly said authorities cleared numerous buildings, including a residence, abandoned house and sheds, Monday looking for Lee John Ponthieux Jr., 41, of Mansura, La.

Police believe Ponthieux shot and killed three friends with a shotgun when a fight between the group turned deadly.

The victims are Edris A. Ellard, 51, of Jonesville; John Ellard Jr., 45, of Monterey, and Annie Bell Adams, 73, of Jonesville.

Kelly said Adams is the mother of Edris Ellard. John Ellard is Edris Ellard’s ex-husband.

The murders happened at Adams’ residence.

Kelly said Edris Ellard’s sister Debbie Adams called police shortly before 3 a.m. after leaving the residence during the fight and then hearing gunshots.

Debbie Adams, Kelly said, is being booked on an obstruction of justice charge. Kelly declined to give specifics on the charge.

Kelly said police believe Ponthieux is still in the area because it is heavily wooded making it easy to hide.

Ponthieux is 6 feet 1 inches tall, 190 pounds, has long brown hair and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray T-shirt.

The Louisiana State Police, U.S. Marshals, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana Probation and Parole Office and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and and Fisheries are all assisting with apprehending Ponthieux.

Kelly said Monday night that there were still people in the area searching, and he said the agencies will be out in full force and in the air with a helicopter again today looking for Ponthieux.

Anyone with any information about the murders should contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-744-5411.

3:20 p.m. UPDATE:

LARTO, La., — The suspect in an early morning triple homicide was not found in a house authorities believed he was hiding in when SWAT teams cleared the house approximately an hour ago, Catahoula Parish Sheriff James Kelly said.

Kelly said the SWAT teams are now preparing to enter an abandoned house in the area the suspect, John Lee Pontachieux Jr., 40, is known to frequent.

Pontachieux was identified to police by a witness and is believed to have shot and killed three of his friends with a shotgun at a Moody Road residence in Larto. The victims are Edris A. Ellard, 51, of Jonesville; John Ellard Jr., 45, of Monterey, and Annie Bell Adams, 73, of Jonesville.

Pontachieux is 6 feet 1 inches tall, 190 pounds, has long brown hair and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray T-shirt.

 Anyone with any information about the murders should contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-744-5411.

 

1:45 P.M.

LARTO, La., — The Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office and other agencies’ SWAT teams are preparing to enter a Catahoula Parish residence within an hour; authorities believe the suspect in an early morning triple homicide in Larto may be hiding in the house.

Catahoula Parish Sheriff James Kelly said authorities believe John Lee Pontachieux Jr., 40, may have barricaded himself in a residence in the area of the murders, which happened at a residence on Moody Road.

“We don’t know for sure, but we think he might be in there,” Kelly said.

Kelly declined to say how the victims were killed or the ages or names of the victims. He did say two of the victims are related.

Kelly said Pontachieux is not from the area and was identified to police by a witness. Pontachieux is 6 feet 1 inches tall, 190 pounds, has long brown hair and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray T-shirt.

Kelly said his office responded to the scene at approximately 2:30 a.m. He said the Louisiana State Police, U.S. Marshals, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana Probation and Parole Office and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and and Fisheries are all assisting with apprehending Pontachieux.

Anyone with any information about the murders should contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-744-5411.