By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Parish authorities are investigating the unclassified death of a Vacherie man who was found in a Luling apartment with a gunshot wound to the chest, said a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

Capt. Pat Yoes, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said deputies received a 911 call Saturday evening from an unidentified person claiming the victim shot himself while visiting his residence at the Lancelot Apartment Complex, located in the 100 block of Lance Lane in Luling.

Yoes said the victim, Gerald Dumas, 41, of Vacherie, was found unconscious inside the apartment with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Dumas was transported to Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Yoes said responding officers were told the incident was a suicide, but detectives are still investigating the case. He said investigators have not determined if the shooting death was accidental, suicide or homicide.

No further information on the incident was released.