The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday that Marina del Rey’s deputies arrested a Louisiana man suspected of double murdering his parents.
Joshua Brocato, 34, was arrested for allegedly arrested at her home in Louisiana.
(Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Joshua Brocato, 34, was wanted by the Pahoya Parish Sheriff’s Office for allegedly shooting his older parents, Priscilla and Marc Brocato, in his southeast Louisiana.
Brocato was arrested in Los Angeles after the Louisiana Sheriff’s Office announced a welfare check at his parents’ home. Authorities say they found the body of his 66-year-old mother in the house and found his 75-year-old father in the property. Louisiana officials issued two warrants for first-degree murder.
In a press release, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies arrested Brocato after conducting a traffic stop, noting that a white Ford E-150 van was parked in the 5400 block of Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. The vehicle “matches the description of the wanted murder vehicle in Louisiana,” the department said.
“During the investigation by the representatives, they found that the suspected Brocato possessed a body weapon and several loaded guns, including an assault rifle,” the department said.
Brocato may have fled to California within three days of the murder, the department said. Louisiana officials estimate that Brocato’s parents died on March 31 or April 1. The Tampahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed Brocato’s arrest in Los Angeles in a latest news release on Facebook.
“The cause of the crime remains unknown,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department press release said. While it is unclear why Brocato fled to California, the department said the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office “warned several Southern California law enforcement agencies.”
Brocato was also booked for people suspected of multiple gun crimes, including possession of unregistered guns and possession of assault weapons, the sheriff’s department said. Brocato was booked at Marina Del Rey station without bail and has a court date Tuesday, the department said.
Los Angeles officials are working with the Tangipahoa parish sheriff’s office to transfer Brocato back to Louisiana, according to a press release.
