GONZALES — A man accused in a Gonzales drive-by shooting that sent nearly 30 rounds into a home late last year is now also linked to a string of vehicle thefts across the Baton Rouge area, investigators say.
He remains in the Ascension Parish Jail on an $830,000 bond, facing a series of violent felony charges tied to a drive-by shooting in Gonzales, along with new theft-related charges in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Cade Hernandez, 24, is charged in Ascension Parish with attempted first-degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting, and aggravated criminal damage to property. He is also facing additional charges in East Baton Rouge Parish for theft of a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm, where a hold has been placed on him.
Hernandez was arrested by Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputies on December 10, 2025, in connection with an October drive-by shooting on West Worthy Road in Gonzales. According to Gonzales Police, nearly 28 rounds were fired into a home from three different guns. A resident was inside the home at the time, but no one was injured.
Following his arrest, Hernandez was transferred to Ascension Parish, where he remains jailed with an $830,000 bond.
Baton Rouge-area theft investigation
As part of the ongoing investigation, Gonzales Police and members of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Jan. 12 at a home in the 9000 block of Camile Court.
According to Baton Rouge Police, investigators received information that Hernandez may have possessed an Autel key-programming device at the residence. The Autel MaxiKM100 is an electronic device commonly used to program vehicle key fobs and is frequently associated with motor vehicle thefts, according to an arrest warrant.
During the search, detectives found a cardboard box inside a shed addressed to Hernandez at the Camile Court address. The package listed the sender as “Locksmith Keyless” from Miami, Florida.
Inside the box, investigators located a black hard-shell carrying case labeled “Autel.” According to the warrant, the case contained multiple empty wrappers for universal Autel keys, though no keys were found. An invoice inside the box identified the device as an Autel MaxiKM100, purchased on Sept. 7, 2025, with Hernandez listed as the buyer.
Investigators later examined the Autel device and discovered it contained multiple vehicle identification numbers. One of those VINs matched a black-and-blue 2023 Dodge Charger reported stolen through Baton Rouge Police on Dec. 10, 2025.
In that case, officers determined through surveillance video that the Charger was stolen between 2 and 2:30 a.m. The vehicle’s owner told police an AR-style .300 Blackout weapon with a buffer tube was inside the car at the time of the theft.
Data from the Autel device showed that a blank key fob was programmed for the Charger on Dec. 10. Investigators believe Hernandez used the device to steal the vehicle, according to the warrant.
Authorities say Hernandez is linked to multiple vehicle thefts committed during early morning hours across the state, with the use of an Autel key-programming device described as his consistent method.
Jail records show Hernandez is also facing additional charges, including simple criminal damage to property and multiple counts of theft of a motor vehicle.
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