A tragic scene unfolded late Saturday night (Dec. 28) in Lacombe, Louisiana, when a man was found dead near the boat launch at the end of Lake Road. The discovery was made by a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy conducting a routine patrol sweep in the area.
The deputy came across the man lying on the roadway, with visible gunshot wounds. Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. As of now, his identity has not been released to the public.
The Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation into the incident, and detectives worked quickly. Within just 24 hours, they arrested 19-year-old Osmer Noel Villalta-Lopez from Ponchatoula. Villalta-Lopez was booked on charges of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward. If you know something, don’t hesitate to contact the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 898-2338.
This tragic event has left the community shaken, but thanks to the quick work of local law enforcement, the suspect is already in custody. As always, the Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who may have seen something unusual in the area to speak up and help with the investigation.
Stay tuned for updates as the investigation continues.