Kritz Springs, LA: Man accused of killing new wife’s ex-husband

By JASON BROWN
Advocate Acadiana bureau
Published: May 11, 2010 - Page: 1BA
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A 25-year-old bridegroom serving in the U.S. Air Force is being held without bond in the Friday death of his bride’s ex-husband, a Krotz Springs firefighter shot and killed just hours after the couple married.

Jason Rolls, of Fort Dix, N.J., was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on one count of manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Michael Hall, Krotz Springs Police Chief Susie Lacassin said.

Rolls appeared in court Monday but 27th Judicial District Court Judge James Doherty declined to set a bond, Lacassin said.

Investigators are still trying to make sense of the shooting, which occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Friday on North Levee Road in Krotz Springs, the police chief said.

Jason and Twaila Rolls had been married for only a few hours when Hall appeared at their home Friday, Lacassin said. Hall entered the home after knocking on a door that opened on its own, evidently having not been fully closed.

Hall then went into a room with Jason Rolls and a brief argument ensued. Lacassin said Twaila Halls was in the living room when the shot was fired.

“What happened there I’m not really sure right now,” Lacassin said.

Hall was shot in the chest with a bullet from a Glock .40-caliber revolver, Lacassin said. The gun was not Rolls’ service revolver.

“We don’t know why Michael was going over there,” she said. “We have no idea.

Hall and Twaila Rolls had only recently divorced, Lacassin said.

Krotz Springs Fire Chief Chris Vidrine said Hall had three children, two biological and one adopted. He had been with the department since December 2009 and had worked very hard to become a firefighter.

Vidrine described Hall as a hardworking man and a loving father.

“Always a smile on his face,” Vidrine said. “The man loved his children with all his heart.”

None of the children were home at the time, Lacassin said.

She confirmed that Air Force officials had been in Krotz Springs for most of Saturday conducting their own investigation into the shooting. She said the military investigators assisted the Police Department while in town.

Lacassin said the shooting has taken everyone by surprise.

“It’s just crazy that it happened,” she said. “It’s just a sad situation.”