Background: The 2700 block of West Airline Highway in Reserve, Louisiana (Google Maps). Inset: Tyler Bourgeois (St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office).
A Louisiana man became a murder suspect when he informed deputies of a body in his trunk after pulling over near a shooting scene, authorities claim.
Tyler Bourgeois, 20, was arrested on Saturday, charged with second-degree murder, as reported by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. The incident unfolded that night when police received a shooting report.
While officers were en route to the alleged crime scene at the 300 block of Railroad Avenue in Reserve, they were informed that an orange, four-door Dodge Charger had been seen departing the area “shortly after the sound of gunfire.” Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered multiple items such as a shell casing and clothing, officials stated.
It wasn’t long before a police officer identified the vehicle in question. Less than 10 minutes after reaching Railroad Avenue, a patrol officer found the car in the parking lot of a store near the 2700 block of West Airline Highway.
Authorities performed a traffic stop, pulling over the driver, who was identified as Bourgeois. Deputies reported he was “the only individual inside the vehicle’s main cab.”
However, another body was allegedly aboard.
“Bourgeois exited the vehicle and told officers that a body was in the trunk of the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office stated. When officers opened the trunk, they saw a dead man, later identified as 21-year-old Tylen Anderson.
The suspect was arrested and interviewed, and he “confessed to the homicide of Tylen Anderson,” deputies said. Bourgeois allegedly told them “he and the victim were riding together and parked” at the original crime scene where “the two of them got into a heated verbal argument.” It is unclear what the argument was about.
The two of them got out of the car, and, at some point, Bourgeois brought out a gun and shot the victim, he allegedly told the sheriff’s office.
St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said it appeared the shooting was an “execution” as the victim was “shot in the temple,” per New Orleans CBS affiliate WWL.
Bourgeois is being held on a $250,000 bond, jail records show.
