Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced warrants have been issued for Second Degree Murder in connection to the shooting death of 53-year-old Kirby Courteaux Jr. of Montegut. Terance Dupre, 22, of Montegut is in custody but was hospitalized on Thursday before being booked on charges. Investigators are now seeking Devante Matthews, 21, of Montegut.
On May 14, 2019, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office began the investigation as Courteaux was reported missing. He had not been seen since May 11. On the morning of Wednesday, May 15, TPSO deputies and detectives spotted the victim’s vehicle traveling on Island Road in Montegut and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver sped away at a high rate of speed and eventually abandoned the vehicle in a wooded area along LA Highway 665. He was apprehended and identified as Terance Dupre. TPSO’s investigation led them to determine Courteaux was likely killed near a boat launch located on LA Highway 665 in Pointe-Aux-Chenes in Lafourche Parish.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives responded and discovered the crime scene near the boat launch, and bullet casings and other evidence were processed at the scene. The investigation also led to the discovery of Courteaux’s body in Morgan City in the area of Levee Road and Veterans Boulevard. His body was recovered with the assistance of the Morgan City Police Department.
Meanwhile, LPSO detectives began questioning Dupre in reference to Courteaux’s death. Through investigation, detectives learned Matthews, Dupre, and Courteaux were at the boat launch Saturday night when Courteaux was reportedly shot. Matthews and Dupre took Courteaux’s body and his truck. They then transported his body to Morgan City and left him near a wooded area. An autopsy on Thursday revealed Courteaux suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the shooting. On Thursday afternoon, detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of Matthews and Dupre for Second Degree Murder with bail set at $1 million each.
During questioning on Thursday, Dupre was transported to a local hospital for treatment on an unrelated matter. Upon release from the hospital, he will be booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on the warrant.
Investigators are now searching for Devante Matthews. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Detectives learned Dupre knew the victim, but they have yet to determine Matthews’ relationship to the victim or a motive in the shooting. The investigation is continuing.
