Ville Platte police investigating fatal home invasion
Gannett Louisiana News
VILLE PLATTE -- Ville Platte Police detectives are investigating an incident in which a woman killed a man who she said took her boyfriend hostage and invaded her home.
The woman, Nedra Gallow, said she shot 19-year-old Antonio Thompson twice in self-defense after he broke into her home.
Lt. John Matte, a Ville Platte Police detective, said the fatal shooting was allegedly the result of two separate home invasions, and police were alerted about the shooting around 11:43 p.m. Tuesday.
Matte said the first incident involved two masked, armed men -- identified as Thompson and 18-year-old Gavin Herbert -- who allegedly broke into a residence located on Hickory Street.
The owner was not at home at the time, and the two men allegedly waited for the owner to return home to rob him, according to Matte.
The two men robbed Kaninski Larnette, identified as the home owner and Gallow's boyfriend, for money, police reported.
Matte said Thompson held Larnette at gunpoint and forced him to drive to Gallow's residence in the 700 block of West Beach Street.
Gallow said in an interview that she heard a knock on the door, and when she opened it, she found Thompson holding her boyfriend at gunpoint.
"He ordered us to get on the floor. He hit me with his gun," Gallow said.
"My momma started screaming. He pushed her down, and I ran to get the gun to protect myself and my family."
Gallow said she came out of the back room, and she and Thompson both pointed their guns at each other. She then ordered him to leave.
She said her boyfriend then grabbed the assailant and the two wrestled on the floor.
As they struggled, she said, she shot Thompson once in the leg, and her boyfriend was able to grab the attacker's gun.
"He kept digging in his pocket like he was going for another gun, and I shot him again," Gallow said of Thompson.
"I was not trying to kill anyone. I hated to do it, but I had to," Gallow said.
Gallow claims her attacker was trying to assure she did not testify against him because she believes he has invaded her home once before.
Matte confirmed the woman's home was previously invaded by two men, but said detectives did not arrest Thompson or Herbert in that invasion.
"We arrested two other men," Matte said. "So far, we have not been able to establish a connection between Gallow and Thompson."
Herbert is currently in police custody, but no formal charges have been filed against anyone involved in the incident.
http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090306/NEWS01/903060338
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March 7th 2009 7:02 PM
