CONVENT, La. — In a tragic incident, a 23-year-old father allegedly took his own life and that of his 1-year-old daughter in a cemetery located in Louisiana. This occurred after he had evaded the police in a high-speed chase, according to reports from local law enforcement.

The event unfolded on Wednesday afternoon in St. James Parish. Authorities indicated that the young girl was pronounced dead at the cemetery, while the father was urgently taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival, as reported by WAFB-TV.

The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call around 2 p.m. from a residence in Paulina. Deputies were requested to assist as the man was supposed to come by to collect some personal belongings. However, he did not appear as expected. Concern deepened when a woman reached out to the sheriff’s office again, requesting a welfare check due to her apprehensions about the man’s mental state and the well-being of their child; she had reportedly received threats from him regarding potential harm to both himself and the child, authorities clarified.

Approximately one hour later, around 5 p.m., deputies from the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office located the suspect after the child’s mother had been tracking his vehicle. A police chase ensued involving officers from both Ascension Parish and the Gonzales Police Department. The pursuit eventually led into St. James Parish, where the man drove into a cemetery and tragically discharged his weapon multiple times.

As of now, the identities of both the father and the child have not been disclosed by the authorities. The investigation is ongoing as officials piece together the events leading to this heartbreaking occurrence.