Tioga, LA: Tioga man charged with killing his wife

Town Talk staff

A 51-year-old Tioga man was arrested early today, May 20, and charged with murder after police found him at a hospital seeking treatment for a gunshot wound he received at the hand of Rapides Parish sheriff's deputies..

Joseph Anton Chehardy, of 1530 Hickory Hill Road in Tioga, has been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, one count of child desertion and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, authorities said.

According to Rapides Parish Sheriff Chuck Wagner, Chehardy shot and killed his wife, Janeva Lasyone Chehardy, in their home late Wednesday night.

Sheriff’s officials said two deputies were responding to a domestic violence call at the Hickory Hill home and had to get out of the way of a truck being driven by Chehardy, who was fleeing the scene.

Wagner said Chehardy ignored commands to get out of the truck, and deputies fired shots into the vehicle, hitting Chehardy in the leg and hitting one of the truck’s tires.

The incident appeared to stem from a domestic situation that escalated, Wagner said.

Chehardy was taken into custody without further incident a short time later at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pineville. He had gone to the hospital for treatment for his gunshot wound.

Chehardy was transferred to another local hospital for treatment.

After release from the hospital, Chehardy was booked into the Rapides Parish Jail. No bond has been set.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office will hold a press conference about the slaying at 1:30 p.m. today.