Authorities in Louisiana are investigating the tragic deaths of a young couple found fatally shot along a highway over the weekend. Dashayla Ardoin, 17, of Mamou, and Glenkeithan Robertson, 21, of Opelousas, were discovered on Saturday, October 12, by responding officers in Acadia Parish.
According to the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the case is being treated as an apparent murder-suicide. Sheriff KP Gibson told PEOPLE that investigators believe Robertson was the shooter, although he did not comment on any potential motive behind the killings.
The couple had been traveling to Mamou at the time of the incident, and their bodies were found at around 7 p.m. that evening. Mamou High School, where Ardoin was a student, was hosting its homecoming event that night, according to the school’s Facebook page. Authorities suspect the couple may have been en route to the homecoming festivities.
The Mamou High School community is mourning the loss of Ardoin. In a heartfelt tribute posted online, the school described her as a beloved student, writing, “Dashayla will always be remembered for her courage and bravery, her kind heart, and her beautiful smile. She was so very loved and will be dearly missed.”
Robertson, who was a local DJ, had recently shared a photo on Instagram of himself with Ardoin, captioning it, “Me & You Against The World.” His social media posts reflected their close relationship, but the circumstances leading to their deaths remain unclear.
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the heartbreaking loss of two young lives.