A 28-year-old mother of two has been identified as the victim in a deadly murder-suicide attempt involving her ex-husband Thursday morning in Elmwood, according to the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.
Meridian Woodson, 28, was pronounced dead inside her apartment at Palmetto Creek, located in the 5100 block of Citrus Boulevard. Authorities confirmed she was the mother of two young daughters, ages 4 and 7.
Investigators say Woodson’s former husband, a 30-year-old Westwego man whose name has not yet been publicly released, is currently hospitalized in critical condition after allegedly shooting himself following the attack.
According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched just after 10 a.m. Thursday after a 911 caller reported a disturbance at Woodson’s residence. When deputies arrived, they found Woodson suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
As investigators began searching for the suspect, they located his silver extended-cab GMC pickup truck parked at a nearby shopping center at 5151 Citrus Boulevard. Authorities say he was found inside the vehicle with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
Crime scene investigators later cordoned off the truck with yellow tape as evidence was processed. The vehicle was later towed from the scene. Additional detectives and coroner’s office personnel were also seen working inside the apartment complex, where Woodson’s body was recovered.
Witnesses described a heavy police presence in the normally quiet residential community. One resident, Jeffrey Daniels, said he was taking out the trash when he saw officers rushing through the complex with lights and sirens.
“I didn’t hear anything at first,” Daniels said. “Then I saw the police and ambulance. This is such a family-oriented community. There are students, families and kids here. I’ve never experienced anything like this here.”
Officials have not yet released further details about what led up to the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
