Inset: Randolyn Allen (Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office). Background: Investigators at the scene of Brett Daigle’s murder in Lake Charles, La. (KPLC).
Over the weekend in Louisiana, a scheduled child custody exchange escalated into fatal violence. According to police, a local mother allegedly shot her child’s father in broad daylight after he had traveled from Colorado.
“Child custody exchanges can sometimes turn into challenging situations,” remarked Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory during an interview with local NBC and CW affiliate KPLC.
Randolyn Allen, 43, of Lake Charles, was the mother at the center of the exchange and has been charged with second-degree murder for the Saturday shooting, according to a CPSO press release. Deputies were dispatched to a residence on South Perkins Ferry Road at around 2:30 p.m. after reports came in about the gunfire.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
“When deputies arrived they located Brett Daigle, 48, Canyon City, CO, deceased,” the CPSO release states. “During the initial investigation detectives learned [Allen] had discharged a firearm at the residence during a child custody exchange. Daigle was struck several times and pronounced dead at the scene.”
Details surrounding the motive have not been released yet by local authorities, only that Allen allegedly shot Daigle multiple times. Guillory told KPLC that police often deal with violence and other criminal acts related to custody exchanges, which he says can be a tough time for parents and children.
“That’s why we encourage people, if they’re uncomfortable going to a residence or to a place to do a child custody exchange, we offer a safe place at our sheriff’s office, at any police department.” Guillory said. “I would highly recommend that.”
During the investigation, detectives interviewed “several witnesses” at the scene, along with Allen. She was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Her bond was still pending Sunday.
