On the evening of September 25, 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Schriever, Louisiana neighborhood, tragically ending the life of 51-year-old Lisa Eschete, a White female. The incident unfolded on Bull Run Road, where Eschete and a male companion were shot at their residence. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, but Lisa succumbed to her injuries.
The male victim survived and was reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities quickly identified their neighbor, 38-year-old Patrick Waddle, as the suspected shooter. Investigators determined that Waddle had opened fire on the home from outside before fleeing the scene in his vehicle. This act of violence was not the first conflict between the two neighbors. Years prior, in 2009, Eschete had filed a lawsuit against Waddle concerning the death of her 19-year-old son, Kerry Eschete. The lawsuit, which alleged her son was fatally injured while exiting a truck driven by Waddle, was ultimately dismissed, and no criminal charges were filed in that case.
Following the shooting, a manhunt for Waddle ensued. When Louisiana State Police troopers attempted to stop his vehicle, Waddle fired upon them, injuring one trooper. After a chase, he abandoned his truck and fled into a nearby wooded area. A large-scale search involving multiple law enforcement agencies was launched. Early the next morning, on September 26, 2021, Patrick Waddle surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody.
Waddle was arrested and faced a litany of charges, including the first-degree murder of Lisa Eschete and the attempted second-degree murder of the male victim. Additional charges were filed for his actions during the manhunt, including five counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. His bond was set at $11.5 million. While the motive for the shooting remained under investigation, the history of conflict between the two parties provided a somber backdrop to the tragic events of that night.
