UPDATE: The family and friends of Garrison Gautreaux gathered Sunday evening to pray a rosary for him in Crowley.
Family and friends are identifying the 17-year-old who died early Sunday in a shooting as a student at Notre Dame High School.
Gautreaux, a junior at the school, was identified by social media posts as the young man who died.
The school posted about his death and about the rosary that was prayed at St. Michael tonight.
"Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the passing of Notre Dame junior, Garrison Gautreaux. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time," a post states. "In times like these, it seems as though words often fall short as we struggle to wrap our minds around tragedy. However one thing that we as a Notre Dame family know how to do well is run to Our Lady, the patroness of our school, in our hurt and in our suffering, and ask her to be near to us and to comfort.
This evening, we will come together as a family to pray the Holy Rosary, offering it up for the repose of Garrison’s soul, for his family, his friends, and loved ones who are grieving. The Rosary will begin at 6pm at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Crowley. All are invited and welcome to come and pray. Mother Mary, we ask that you bring Garrison’s soul quickly to Jesus, and that you wrap your loving mantle of protection and comfort around his family and friends during this time. Amen."
At the church this morning, the congregation prayed for him.
"I come to you with a very heavy heart, but one of our students at Notre Dame was killed last night," the priest said. "His name is Garrison Gautreaux. We pray for him and his family and for the junior class at Notre Dame, and we follow the instructions of Jesus Christ to proclaim good news."
Here's the audio:
The 17-year-old was found in his vehicle parked in the 100 block of North Polk Street, Rayne Chief of Police Carroll J. Stelly said.
Officers were called to the truck at about 1 a.m. Paramedics were there, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say they are investigating the death as a homicide. Anyone with any information about what happened is asked to call Acadia Crime Stoppers at (337) 789-8477.
The investigation is continuing at this time.
