Dalana Charlot, 41, and Raylon Wiltz, 33, were both found shot in the driveway of a home on Maggie Lane in Carencro, Louisiana, just after 11 p.m. on April 1, 2026. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived in the 100 block of Maggie Lane, which is close to Gendarme Road. When they got there, they found both people with gunshot wounds lying on the driveway. Investigators started working as soon as the location was secured.
Neighbors reported hearing gunfire shortly before law enforcement arrived. The quiet neighborhood, typically peaceful and family-oriented, was cordoned off for hours as detectives processed evidence and reconstructed the sequence of events.
Early findings indicated that Wiltz had shot his estranged girlfriend, Charlot, before turning the gun on himself. Charlot was pronounced dead at the scene by responding medical personnel. Wiltz, who was still alive when deputies arrived, was transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, he later died from his injuries. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the incident was a murder-suicide, with all evidence pointing to that conclusion.
Investigators noted that Charlot and Wiltz had been estranged at the time of the shooting, though they have not released additional details about what may have led to the confrontation. Officials have not indicated whether any prior domestic disturbance reports were linked to the couple.
The deaths of Dalana Charlot and Raylon Wiltz have deeply affected the Carencro community. Friends and family of both victims are struggling to process the sudden violence, describing the area as one where such tragedies rarely occur. Neighbors expressed shock, and community members have begun organizing support efforts for the families affected. Local leaders have encouraged residents to seek help if they or someone they know may be experiencing domestic conflict, emphasizing that resources are available for those struggling with mental health or domestic violence issues.
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office noted that the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue gathering information and reviewing evidence collected from the scene. Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any concerns related to domestic violence. The tragedy has prompted renewed conversations in Lafayette Parish about intervention, safety, and the importance of seeking help before conflicts escalate.
For the families of Dalana Charlot and Raylon Wiltz, the loss is compounded by the circumstances. A woman is dead, killed by a man she had once been close to. That man is also dead, having taken his own life after the shooting. Two families are left to grieve, to ask questions that may never be fully answered, and to carry the weight of a tragedy that unfolded in a driveway on a quiet street in Carencro. The investigation continues, but for those who loved them, the answers will not bring them back. Only the memory of who they were, and the loss of who they might have become.
