On a Tuesday morning in the quiet community of Chackbay, near Thibodaux, Louisiana, a long-simmering dispute between neighbors erupted into a fatal confrontation. Christopher Saunders, a 46-year-old male resident, was shot and killed on December 5, 2017, in an incident that stunned the local community. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Saunders was originally from South Florida but had made his home in Chackbay.
He was known as a devoted family man who cherished time with his wife, with whom he shared a love for hunting and fishing. He worked as a captain on crew boats and was remembered for his deep affection for his family, friends, and his three dogs.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office received a call about the shooting at 11:54 a.m. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered a grim tableau: Saunders was lying on the ground, and his neighbor, 60-year-old Keith Trosclair, was kneeling nearby with his hands in the air. A rifle was found on the ground between the two men. It was also noted that Saunders had a pistol in a holster on his belt at the time of the incident. Despite the presence of his own firearm, Saunders was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lafourche Parish Coroner's Office.
The investigation that followed revealed a history of conflict between the two men over the property line that divided their neighboring residences. This ongoing feud is believed to have been the catalyst for the deadly encounter. Following an investigation and interviews with witnesses, detectives determined they had probable cause to arrest Trosclair. He was taken into custody and subsequently booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, Keith Trosclair was charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of Christopher Saunders. The community was left to grapple with the sudden loss of a beloved member, while the legal process began for the man accused of ending his life over a neighborhood dispute. A prayer service was held for Saunders the following week at The House of Prayer, where family and friends gathered to mourn his passing.
