2 dead, 1 wounded in shooting at Baton Rouge, La., office; former employee in custody

2 dead, 1 wounded in La. office shooting

BATON ROUGE, La. — A former employee of a Baton Rouge construction company was arrested Wednesday in the shooting deaths of two people and the wounding of a third at the company’s offices, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as Richard Matthews, 53, of Slaughter, faced two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, said Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Bond information and whether Matthews had an attorney was not immediately available. Hicks said Matthews likely would appear before a judge on Thursday but he probably would be denied bond because of the murder charges.

Matthews is a former employee of Grady Crawford Construction Co. and the victims were all company employees, Hicks said. His employment and subsequent dismissal from the company are currently under investigation, she said.

According to investigators, Matthews showed up at the business shortly before 2 p.m. and began firing on employees. He’s accused of shooting three employees — two of whom were pronounced dead at the scene — and fired at a fourth person, but missed, she said.

A company foreman tackled and disarmed the suspect before sheriff’s deputies arrived, Hicks said.

The victims were identified as Dianna Tullier, 44, of Walker and Cheryl D. Boykin, 55, of Denham Springs. They were both clerical workers for the company, Hicks said.

A third victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were considered life-threatening, but Hicks said that person is listed in stable condition.