Dad kills self after attempting to kill estranged wife, son near school

Published 1:26 pm Tuesday, April 5, 2016

DESTREHAN — A River Parishes father who tried to run down and kill his estranged wife and their son Monday at St. Charles Borromeo School later killed himself, authorities announced Tuesday afternoon.

According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to St. Charles Borromeo School in Destrehan at approximately 4:40 p.m. Monday, where they discovered a mother and her 4-year-old son were struck by a vehicle driven by the woman’s estranged husband.

Sheriff Greg Champagne identified the father as Mengkai Zhang, a 47-year-old from Destrehan who authorities said was recently separated from his wife.

While fleeing the scene, authorities said the suspect struck two occupied parked vehicles.

The mother and child were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, along with another victim who was located in one of the parked vehicles that was struck.

During the investigation it was learned the New Orleans Police Department was working an alleged suicide involving the suspect, authorities said.

Zhang was identified at the alleged suicide scene, along with the vehicle used during the attempted murder, which occurred in Destrehan.