By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

EDGARD — An 85-year-old St. John Parish community activist was convicted Wednesday of the second-degree murder of his 55-year-old son.

Voorheis &#8220V.J.” Theriot, of 308 Camellia Ave., shot his son once in the forehead, three days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana.

He now faces a mandatory life sentence for the murder. Sentencing is scheduled by 40th Judicial District Judge Mary Hotard Becnel to take place on Aug. 9 at the Arcuri Center in LaPlace.

St. John deputies were called at 9:09 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2005, to Theriot’s home. There, they found Theriot sitting on a sofa in the patio at the rear of the house. His son, Lawrence Theriot, had been shot in the head, the chest and in the palm of his left hand. A Colt Huntsman .22 long rifle was secured as the homicide weapon.

Theriot was active both in veterans’ affairs and in the community at large. He successfully led the push for term limits for the St. John Parish Council and parish president, approved by voters on March 12, 1996, and was one of the prime movers in attracting the War Veterans Home, now nearing its completion, on Airline Highway in Reserve.

Testimony in the three-day trial centered on an argument by defense attorney Thomas Damico that the shooting was self-defense.

However, prosecutor William O’Regan argued successfully that the crime was premeditated. As Theriot was first taken into custody, he admitted to the shooting, according to the incident report. Additionally, prior to the shooting itself, Theriot announced to Alvine Theriot, his wife of 62 years, his intention to shoot their son.

&#8220If he comes home and says one word to me, I’m going to shoot him,” she told the court Wednesday morning.

The mother and son had evacuated to Baton Rouge ahead of Katrina, leaving the elderly Theriot to safeguard the home. She returned first and called her son to join them, once power was restored.

The jury took from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to deliberate and return their verdict of guilty.

&#8220It was the appropriate charge and the appropriate sentence,” O’Regan said.