A Gonzales teen tragically took his own life while a St. Amant teen was arrested following an ongoing burglary investigation that was being conducted by Ascension and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s investigators, according to Sheriff Jeff Wiley.
The incident occurred shortly before midnight when investigators and uniform patrol deputies went to a home on Wallace Acres Road in search of nineteen year old Caine Miller who was wanted by Livingston
authorities in connection with multiple vehicle burglaries where numerous weapons, money, and electronics were stolen. Miller was also a suspect in a rash of vehicle burglaries in Ascension Parish.
When investigators arrived at the Wallace Acres home they met with the homeowner who had no idea, at the time that Miller was in his home. Investigators immediately found evidence that indicated
someone had recently climbed through the bedroom window.
As the Wallace Acres scene unfolded investigators learned that a fifteen year old from Ascension Parish was with Miller in the bedroom. Ascension Parish juvenile investigators had been searching for the
fifteen year old for the past week as he was wanted as a “RUNAWAY”. Ascension authorities had also developed the fifteen year old as a suspect early on in the burglary investigation and authorities in
Livingston Parish were in the process of obtaining an arrest affidavit on him in connection with their vehicle burglaries.
Authorities entered the home when a single gunshot was heard in the bedroom only several feet from them. They were forced to retreat to the exterior of the home in order to bring the homeowner’s family
to safety. Caine and the fifteen year old were asked via a PA system to surrender to authorities but failed to comply after several hours of negotiation. During ongoing negotiations investigators received
information that the single gunshot that was heard was Miller taking his own life.
At approximately 3 a.m., the 15-year-old runaway surrendered to authorities and was arrested for FINS/RUNAWAY and transported to the Assumption Youth Detention Center. He will be transported to
Livingston Parish to face charges in their jurisdiction within the new few days. Records show the 15-year-old had been arrested in the past for being a “RUNAWAY”. The fifteen year-old told authorities that
Miller had in fact shot himself.
The Ascension Parish Crisis Response team was activated to clear the Wallace Acres home of any further threats when Millers body was located in the bedroom closet with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He
was pronounced dead on scene, added Sheriff Wiley. The weapon that Miller had used to take his own life had been previously reported stolen from a vehicle in Ascension Parish.
Caine Miller had an extensive criminal history dating back as a juvenile criminal history. As an adult, Miller was arrested a number of times on charges stemming from burglary, theft, contributing to the
delinquency of a juvenile, and aggravated assault with a firearm.
The 15-year-old runaway has been arrested several times with charges stemming from theft, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, illegal possession of stolen things, and armed robbery.
Sheriff Wiley added that the 15-year-old and Miller were acquaintances and there are additional arrests expected as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office at 225-621-INFO (4636) or by texting 847411 to our anonymous tip line from any cellular device or Crime
Stoppers at 225-344-STOP (7867). To be eligible for a cash reward, you must contact Crime Stoppers immediately.