Man Saves Wife From Carjacker Before Dying Of Gunshot Wound On Birthday Trip

An Arkansas man saved his wife's life before dying of a gunshot injury he sustained during a tussle with a Louisiana carjacker.

An 18-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the 62-year-old man's death.

The victim, Paul Holt, had traveled from Arkansas to Louisiana to celebrate his 63rd birthday Sunday when he was fatally shot by the suspect, identified as Ladarrius Evans, of Hammond.

Evans approached the couple while they were leaving their Hammond hotel a little before 8 a.m. on Saturday, officials said, according to WDSU.

Evans was wearing a mask and entered the couple's SUV before trying to drive off with Holt's wife in the passenger's seat. It is believed Holt put up a fight and successfully managed to get his wife out of the SUV. However, the husband was shot while doing so.

The suspect drove off after both Holt and his wife were out of the vehicle.

Deputies from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene and found Holt suffering from a gunshot wound in a parking lot, WBRZ Channel 2 reported.

The man was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead a day before his 63rd birthday.

"Deputies responded to the Red Roof Plus on Puma Drive in Hammond, after it was reported a person had been shot. Upon arrival, deputies located 62-year-old Paul Holt of Arkansas with a gunshot wound to the chest," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

"The investigation further revealed Holt and his wife were approached by an armed, masked subject, later identified as Evans, who entered the vehicle and attempted to leave with Holt's wife in the passenger seat," the statement continued. "Holt attempted to stop Evans, and was successful in aiding his wife's escape. While doing so, Evans shot Holt, who was unarmed, and fled in the stolen SUV."

Investigators located Evans and the stolen vehicle later that day.

"Upon locating Evans, he not only confessed to the crime, but was found to be in possession of items belonging to the victims as well as the clothing and other items used to perpetrate the murder and carjacking. Included in those items were a 'Ghost Gun' with a Glock Switch," the sheriff's office said further.

The suspect was arrested and is currently facing charges of first-degree murder, carjacking, possession of an unidentifiable firearm, armed robbery with a firearm and possession of a machine gun.