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Louisiana Dollar General employees lock murder suspect inside store

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Louisiana Dollar General employees lock murder suspect inside store Neil Broussard, escorted by law enforcement, is brought into the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning, July 16, 2020, in Lake Charles, La. Workers at a Dollar General store recognized Broussard, a convicted sex offender accused of killing two teenagers and kidnapping a third, and locked him in after quietly escorting other customers out. (Donna Price/The Daily Advertiser via AP)/American Press via AP) (Donna Price/AP)

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Dollar General employees recognized a murder suspect who walked into the store Thursday; they quietly escorted customers out, while locking him inside and calling the authorities.

Neil Broussard, 51, is accused of killing Kyla Hidalgo, 17, and Kaleb Charlton, 18; wounding the girl’s mother, Catherine Hidalgo, 40; and kidnapping the woman’s 14-year-old daughter early Wednesday morning. The 14-year-old was found later that morning.

His bond was set at $4 million, KPLC reported.

Broussard was convicted in 2005 and 2011 of molesting children and was awaiting trial on sex charges in Texas.

Officers from multiple agencies were sweeping the area in a manhunt for Broussard when authorities got a call from Sallye Salter and Tiffany Cook telling them he was locked in the Ragley store.

“We were so close we got there within seconds and were able to apprehend him without any incidents,” Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso told the American Press.

Mancuso and Beauregard Sheriff Mark Herford personally thanked Salter and Cook for their actions.

“You both exemplified great character in a high pressure situation,” Herford said on social media.

A second person was also arrested but details on the arrest were not released.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group

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