Marksville, LA (6/7/2024) – Tragedy struck in Avoyelles Parish on the afternoon of July 6, 2024, when local authorities were alerted to a homicide in Marksville.
At approximately 2:05 PM, the Avoyelles Parish 911 Communication Center received a distressing call reporting the incident. Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) Patrol Deputies quickly responded, followed by APSO Detectives arriving to investigate.
Preliminary investigations by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives, in conjunction with the Avoyelles Parish Coroner’s Office, determined that 76-year-old Nellie Whitstine Rousseau was the victim of a fatal gunshot wound. The subsequent inquiry led to the arrest of her grandson, 29-year-old Zachary Stephen Bullitt, also of Marksville.
Following the issuance of a 12th Judicial District Court Arrest Warrant, Bullitt was apprehended and faces charges of First-Degree Murder and Obstruction of Justice. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for the crime, and as the investigation progresses, further details are awaited.
As of now, no bond has been set for Bullitt, and he remains in custody. The local community has been shaken by this violent act, particularly due to the familial relationship between the victim and the suspect.
It is important to remember that the suspect has not been convicted and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
