La. police officer arrested after allegedly killing 2 teen girls during high-speed chase

BRUSLY, La. (TCD) -- An officer with the Addis Police Department was arrested and charged with homicide after he reportedly killed two teen girls during a high-speed pursuit.

 According to WVLA-TV, on Saturday, Dec. 31, officers from the Addis and Baton Rouge police departments got into a chase with a man accused of stealing a car. The suspect, Tyquel Zanders, allegedly walked into someone’s house, pushed them, took their car keys, and drove off. Officers attempted to make traffic stops, but Zanders allegedly drove at over 110 miles per hour on I-10 East.

The Advocate reports the vehicle belonged to Zanders’ father.

Zanders was allegedly turning around on Louisiana Highway 1 when an Addis Police officer hit another vehicle making its way onto the street. Seventeen-year-old Maggie Dunn and 16-year-old Caroline Gill were killed in the crash.

The two teens were cheerleaders at Brusly High School.

ABC News reports Maggie’s brother, Liam Dunn, was also in the car at the time and  transported to a hospital in critical condition. David Cauthron, the Addis Police officer, allegedly ran a red light when he crashed into the car.

Cauthron was reportedly driving at about 86 miles per hour and did not hit the brakes before the fatal collision, WBRZ-TV reports.

The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office reportedly charged Cauthron with two counts of negligent homicide and Zanders with two counts of manslaughter.

District Attorney Tony Clayton reportedly said in a statement, "We will follow the facts of the case, but I cannot understand why the officer was driving at such a high rate of speed through a red light. Sirens and police vehicles do not give an officer the authority to cut through a red light. They must slow down or come to a complete stop when human life is in danger."

He added, "In this case, evidence appears to show that the officer was grossly negligent, and the lives of these young people would not have been taken had he exercised common sense."

Clayton also said in his statement, "If it involves putting human life in danger, stop the damn pursuit. It’s just not worth the risk. This is a tragic case that has impacted many families and an entire community, and ended the lives of young people with a promising future ahead of them. It’s very sad."

Cauthron was booked into the West Baton Rouge County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bond.

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