SLIDELL, La. - Police say a Slidell man went on a "violent crime spree" before he was ultimately killed after his mother died from an overdose last week.
The Slidell Police Department released new details Thursday about the bizarre string of events that left three people dead.
The first incident happened around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 when officers were called to a suspected overdose involving a 43-year-old woman. At some point, the woman's son, 29-year-old Justin Cox, asked his wife to drive him to the hospital to see his mother. While on the way to the hospital, Cox allegedly got into an argument with his wife and he shot her once in the chest. Cox then reportedly dropped his wife off at Slidell Memorial Hospital and drove away in a black Kia Forte.
Witnesses told police they saw Cox flee down Eleventh Street toward Fremeaux Avenue around midnight. Cox reportedly abandoned the Kia near Monaco and Queens drive after investigators believe he saw 38-year-old Christopher Evans outside his home working on his girlfriend's white Chevrolet Tahoe.
Investigators believe Cox did not know Evans but saw an opportunity to carjack Evans to throw police off his trail.
"It is not 100 percent clear as to the next sequence of events, but at some point Cox shot Evans in the head and fled the area in the Tahoe with Evans' body inside the vehicle," the statement from the police department said.
Evans' girlfriend told investigators that she last spoke to her boyfriend around midnight and started to frantically search for him when he never arrived to pick her up from work.
Police believe that Cox then drove the Tahoe an apartment on Lee Street where 26-year-old Jamile Robinson lived. Robinson said he believed Cox drove to the apartment with the intent to rob or kill him. He told police an argument ensued and he shot Cox in self-defense.
Around 4:30 a.m. Friday, officers responded to reports of shots fired at the apartment complex on Lee Street. At the scene, officers found Cox lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died.
Police say Cox had keys to Evan's white Chevy Tahoe in his pocket when he was found. Officers found the vehicle at the apartment complex with Evans's body inside.
Robinson is not being charged with murder in Cox's death. Robinson was later arrested on unrelated charges, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Cox's wife is still hospitalized, but expected to recover.
“This was a very unfortunate series of incidents that resulted in three people losing their lives. The common denominator here is narcotics. All of this started over drugs, which led to bad, irrational decisions being made," Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said. "What happened last week is a direct result of how drugs can ruin families and a local community. We will continue to be proactive in combating the illegal drug activity in our city with the mission of putting the drug dealers in prison. Please continue to pray for everyone who was affected by this and that they can find peace during this difficult time in their lives.”