BAKER — A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly double shooting that erupted during a family crawfish boil Sunday evening near Baker, leaving one person dead and another critically injured.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Steven Berthelot, who is still in the hospital, is now in their custody, charged with second-degree murder after allegedly opening fire during a family gathering. Deputies say Gad Davis, 27, died at the scene, and another person, believed to be Davis’ brother, shot Berthelot multiple times in response, leaving him critically wounded.
A witness’ account of events
The violence unfolded around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, in the 6100 block of Rolling Acres, off Plank Road. According to EBRSO, an argument broke out between family members during a crawfish boil. Witnesses say the confrontation escalated between Davis, his mother’s boyfriend (Berthelot), and her brother.
A family member who witnessed the chaos told UWK that after a heated argument, Berthelot ran into the house and retrieved a gun from a closet.
“All of a sudden, he runs into the house and when he runs inside, everybody’s going, ‘He’s going to get a gun. He’s going to get a gun!’” the family member recalled.
Moments later, Berthelot allegedly shot Davis, killing him. According to officials, a bullet hit Davis in the forehead. An autopsy is pending.
In the aftermath, the family member says Davis’ mother, who is also Berthelot’s girlfriend, slit her own neck twice in an apparent act of distress. She is expected to survive.
Davis’ brother then reportedly shot Berthelot in retaliation, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains under medical care and in custody. Deputies later booked Berthelot on second-degree murder charges. UWK requested his booking photo, but because he is still in the hospital, there is no mugshot yet.
According to the arrest warrant, officials interviewed the brother that shot back at Berthelot, who told them that he helped disarm Berthelot. After being disarmed, however, Berthelot allegedly went back to the closet and pulled out a revolver handgun.
The brother also told officials that Berthelot allegedly “had a history of arming himself with a firearm when he would get angry,” the warrant reads.
A relative who was at the scene told UWK the incident has left the family shattered.
“It’s devastating and crazy,” the source said. “I was in the room when it happened; it was just terrible.”
The family described Gad Davis as a devoted husband and father. His daughter, Jorja, said he was a hard worker who loved his family deeply.
“He had a big personality and he was always smiling at everybody,” she told UWK. “He was very nice and kind-hearted. He always thought about others before he thought about himself.”
She added that he was passionate about working on cars and stereo systems and loved creating things.
“He liked making things,” she said.
A GoFundMe has been created to help with funeral expenses and to support Davis’ wife and daughters.
The investigation is ongoing.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
