In the quiet community of Slidell, Louisiana, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded, leaving a family shattered and a community in mourning. Angel Leanne Thompson Smith, a 31-year-old woman, lost her life on April 1, 2023, in a devastating act of violence that took place within her own home. The grim discovery was made by one of her children, who found both of his parents unresponsive and bleeding.
Authorities from the St.
Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office were summoned to the residence at approximately 9:30 in the morning. Upon their arrival, they found Angel Smith and her estranged partner, 31-year-old Rico Keller, deceased in a bedroom with a firearm located nearby. The investigation that followed pointed to a grim conclusion: a murder-suicide.
The St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office later confirmed that Angel Smith's death was a homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds. Rico Keller's death was determined to be a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, identifying him as the perpetrator in this tragic event.
The devastating incident left not only a community in shock but also the couple's children without their parents. Another of their children was also present in the home at the time of the incident. In the wake of this profound loss, the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services stepped in to provide care for the children. As the investigation concluded with the identification of the suspect who was also deceased, no arrests were made in connection with Angel Leanne Thompson Smith's death.
