A shooting on Banks Street South of Coushatta early Wednesday morning has left one man dead and a Red River Parish Deputy Sheriff injured. Louisiana State Police were called in by the sheriff to investigate the incident. That investigation continued Wednesday evening.

State Police report that deputies responded to a welfare concern at a home on Banks Street. Upon arrival they made contact with a male subject who was the source of the call. That report states “the male subject armed himself with a firearm. Shots were then fired by both the male subject and the deputies.”

The subject was identified by family members as Preston Thornton, a six-year veteran of the Army. They said Thornton had served in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thornton’s sister Sydneye Thornton (pictured below) told the Journal she had been talking all night with Thornton who had been suffering from an episode of paranoia. She also said that Thornton had been diagnosed with PTSD. His sister said “Early this morning they had sought assistance from the Veterans Administration. Preston Thornton had agreed with the VA representative to allow himself to be transported to the VA in Shreveport for treatment.

Thornton’s mother Natalie Wilson told the Journal, “I was in the room with my son when the deputies arrived.” Wilson said she did not see her son with a weapon and she did not specifically see anyone shoot his weapon. But she added, “There was a lot of shooting and a lot of blood in the house, and I thought everyone was dead.”

The incident continues to be investigated by Red River Deputies and State Police. The Journal will have an update in our Friday edition.