SBSO INVESTIGATING MISSING PERSON CASE IN VIOLET
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is investigating a missing person case they deem suspicious, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, shortly before 9 p.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call for service in the 3300 block of Shannon Drive in Violet in reference to a welfare check.
When deputies arrived on the scene they were met by an adult male who said he forced entry into the home after several unsuccessful attempts to contact his relative, 70-year-old Danny Washington, who lives at the residence. Washington was not found inside the home.
During the course of the investigation, detectives with the Criminal Investigations Bureau learned the missing man’s son, Dantonio Washington, 33, also was missing, along with his father’s 2020 Toyota Tacoma.
A short time later, Field Operations Patrol deputies located Danny Washington’s truck traveling in the 5800 block of East Judge Perez Drive in Violet and conducted a traffic stop.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Dantonio Washington, briefly exited the vehicle but then reentered it. Seconds later, deputies heard a gunshot from inside the vehicle.
As deputies approached the vehicle it was discovered Washington had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Dantonio Washington was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives are still trying to locate Danny Washington. He weighs 230 pounds and is 5’4” tall.
The investigation is ongoing, the Sheriff said.
Anyone with information about this incident, or any other criminal activity in St. Bernard Parish is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477, or Crimestoppers GNO at (504) 822-1111. Callers to the CIB tip hotline or Crimestoppers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash award from Crimestoppers.
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