VACHERIE — An area man who approached a local elementary school with a shotgun this morning was arrested without incident, police said.

Huey P. Oubre, 73, of Vacherie is charged with carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon by a student or nonstudent on school property and criminal trespass. He is being held at the St. James Parish jail awaiting the setting of bond.

Sometime before 7:42 a.m. today, Vacherie Elementary School officials noticed a man under the pavilion adjacent to the main school buildings with a shotgun.

After calling the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office, school officials approached the man, telling him he must immediately leave school grounds.

St. James Sheriff Willy Martin Jr. said deputies arrived on scene and learned the gunman, identified as Oubre, left campus without incident before their arrival.

Sheriff’s detectives went to Oubre’s home in Vacherie but failed to find him there, Martin said, adding Oubre was located at an undisclosed business in Vacherie.

“After advising him of his Miranda rights, Oubre stated to detectives his intent was to hunt birds located on and around the school property,” Martin said. “The shotgun was recovered from his vehicle, and Oubre was arrested.”