Children Watched in Horror as Their Dad Was Shot Dead During Custody Exchange — and Mom Is Now Charged

A Louisiana woman is in custody after a contentious custody exchange turned deadly.

Randolyn Allen, 43, faces a second-degree murder charge after deputies say she killed 48-year-old Brett Daigle on May 24.

Daigle is the father of Allen’s children and the former couple was meeting at a home in Lake Charles for a custody exchange when the incident occurred, according to a news release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called to the residence in response to the shooting at around 2:30 p.m., according to the release.

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Detectives were then notified about the incident, and after speaking to several eyewitnesses, they determined that Allen “discharged a firearm at the residence during a child custody exchange,” according to the release.

Daigle was “struck several times” and pronounced dead on the scene, deputies said.

This all happened in front of the couple’s children, though it is unclear if Daigle was returning them after they spent time at his home in Colorado or picking them up to spend time in Colorado.

Allen is now being held at the Calcasieu Correctional Center and her bond has yet to be set in the case, according to jail records. It’s unclear if she has an attorney.