In the late hours of a Friday night in Houma, Louisiana, a simmering disturbance between two men erupted into deadly violence, leaving two families to mourn and a community in shock. On August 28, 2026, 48-year-old Christopher Michael Prince Sr. was fatally wounded in a shootout that also claimed the life of another Gibson man, 49-year-old Ferron Michael Ruffin Sr. The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office responded to multiple reports of gunfire shortly before 11 p.m.
in the 4000 block of Southdown Mandalay Road. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered a grim scene with two men suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the driveway of a residence.
Emergency medical personnel pronounced Ferron Michael Ruffin Sr. dead at the scene. Christopher Michael Prince Sr. was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his critical injuries. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Prince succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The investigation by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Division quickly revealed that the two men were involved in an ongoing dispute that escalated to a fatal exchange of gunfire. Evidence recovered from the scene was consistent with the information gathered by detectives, painting a picture of a tragic and violent confrontation.
As both individuals involved in the shootout were deceased, the investigation did not lead to any arrests or the naming of any surviving suspects. The case, therefore, did not proceed to trial, and there were no convictions or sentences to be handed down. The incident stands as a somber reminder of how quickly disputes can escalate to irreversible tragedy. Sheriff Tim Soignet of Terrebonne Parish extended his condolences to the families and all those affected by the shooting, acknowledging the devastating impact such events have on the community. The investigation concluded by identifying the incident as a result of the ongoing disturbance between the two men, which ultimately led to their untimely deaths.
