Early Saturday morning in rural St. Tammany Parish, a family dispute on Highway 1081 ended in deadly violence, with deputies arresting a Covington-area man after his brother was found fatally shot on their shared property.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says 47-year-old William Jenkins was discovered with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies encountered his brother, 50-year-old Frank Jenkins, on the property. Investigators say he told them he had shot William following an altercation. Both men were living on the same parcel at the time. The body was turned over to the coroner as detectives continued their investigation.
How deputies say it unfolded
Shortly after 1 a.m., the sheriff’s office received a 911 call from a woman reporting that her uncle had shot her father. A second 911 call quickly followed from the man now accused in the killing. According to WVUE, deputies say Frank Jenkins admitted to shooting his brother after an altercation at the home.
The sheriff’s office has not publicly discussed a possible motive and has asked anyone with additional information to contact investigators as they work to piece together what led up to the deadly confrontation.
Scene and arrest
Deputies responding to the 20000 block of Highway 1081 near Covington found William Jenkins suffering from what appeared to be a single gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. As reported by WDSU, officers took 50-year-old Frank Jenkins into custody and transported him to the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.
Authorities say both brothers lived on the property, adding another layer of tension to a case that appears rooted in a domestic dispute. The investigation remains active, with detectives continuing to gather statements and any available evidence from the scene.
Charges and next steps
According to the sheriff’s office, Frank Jenkins is expected to be booked on one count of second-degree murder and was being processed at the parish correctional center. WWL notes that the agency’s release included standard language reminding the public that Jenkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Detectives have not yet announced any initial court dates in the case. They have urged witnesses, or anyone with relevant video or information from the area around the time of the shooting, to contact the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
What the law says
Under Louisiana law, second-degree murder includes intentional killings, as well as deaths that occur during certain felonies. A conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. The definition and penalty are set out in state statute, Louisiana Legislature (La. R.S. 14:30.1).
Local context
The case adds to a string of domestic-related homicides and violent incidents in St. Tammany Parish in recent months, highlighting the often volatile nature of disputes that erupt inside family homes. As reported by WWL, deputies investigated another domestic homicide in the Covington area earlier this year.
Neighbors and anyone who may have seen or recorded anything along Highway 1081 around the time of the shooting are being asked to contact the sheriff’s office as detectives work to determine exactly how a family argument turned into a deadly shooting.
