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Eric Ray-Martin Thibodeaux
After allegedly entering an Orange County couple’s home, stealing their gun, shooting one of the homeowners and setting fire to the residence, a 39-year-old man yelled for first responders to rescue him from the flames he manufactured; he was then arrested for aggravated assault and arson.
Returning home to her husband and infant child after an out-of-town trip June 4, an Orange County resident told deputies she heard a single gunshot. According to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), that gunshot was followed by her husband telling her he had just been shot by a man officers would identify as Eric Ray-Martin Thibodeaux.
“(The victim’s wife) informed deputies that after her arrival home from a trip out of town, she entered her home and heard a single gunshot,” OCSO reported. “Shortly thereafter, she observed her husband running from the back portion of the residence stating he had just been shot. Both individuals, along with their infant child vacated their residence and ran to nearby neighbors for safety.”
Sometime after 3:48 p.m., OCSO deputies arrived in the 2800 block of North Highway 62 in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper right arm and chest. First responders immediately transported him to a Beaumont hospital for treatment.
Moments after law enforcement officials set up a perimeter around the house where the suspect was, another gunshot was heard from within the garage area. OCSO’s SWAT team arrived on scene and attempted to gain communications with Thibodeaux, but received no response. During this time period, an additional shot was fired from within the home.
“At this point, heavy smoke was seen coming from the residence,” OCSO reported. “The suspect had set fire to the garage area of the family’s home.”
In an attempt to gain a visual of what was occurring inside the home, deputies deployed a tactical robot, but were unable to see through the smoke. Then, deputies reportedly heard Thibodeaux yelling out for help from within the residence.
“With heavy smoke and flames emitting from the structure, a window was breached and officials were able to safely remove the suspect from the burning home,” OCSO reported. “He was then taken into custody. The suspect was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont for a medical evaluation before he was booked into the Orange County Jail.”