LAPLACE, La. — A 23-year-old man, deemed too dangerous for local detention, is in state custody after attacking four people in LaPlace, Louisiana, late Sunday afternoon with a machete, killing at least two of them.
According to authorities, Oscar Urias brutally stabbed his girlfriend, 31-year-old Elizabeth Tornabene, and her unidentified 15-year-old sister to death. He is also accused of stabbing his own unidentified 17-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother in the attack, WGNO reported.
Sheriff Mike Tregre set to speak about case where he says 23-year-old Oscar Urias killed his 31-year-old girlfriend, and her 15-year-old sister and attacked his 17-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother with two knives pic.twitter.com/80YgpzYbTo
— Rilwan Balogun (@RilwanFox8) October 26, 2020
The attacks spanned two residences, including the home Urias and Tornabene shared with her sister for the past month and a neighbor’s garage, the TV station reported.
Urias' sister was listed in critical condition Monday at University Medical Center in New Orleans, while his brother was treated and released on Sunday.
“This was a vicious attack,” St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Michael Tregre told NOLA.com. “This is probably the top, worst that I’ve seen in my 32 years of law enforcement.”
According to the news outlet, an argument erupted between Urias and Tornabene, after which Urias emerged from a bedroom wearing a red-colored devil mask and holding two knives. He stabbed Tornabene to death and stabbed his siblings, who had attempted to intervene.
Meanwhile, Tornabene’s sister ran from the home, but Urias cornered her in an open garage of a nearby home. The 63-year-old homeowner told NOLA.com that, after he ordered his wife and grandchildren to hide in an upstairs bedroom, he heard Urias kill the girl.
“I looked him in his eyes. He looked like the devil,” the homeowner told the news outlet.
Tregre says the 15-year-old ran towards a neighbor’s home. The sheriff says the homeowner is a friend. The family heard screams for help.
— Rilwan Balogun (@RilwanFox8) October 26, 2020
Urias will be transferred to a state facility. @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/vnzcTTUmJg
“I know what he was doing. … The last thing I heard her say was, ‘You’re gonna kill me,’” the man told NOLA.com, before describing seeing Urias walk around the property with the teen’s innards wrapped around his neck.
Tregre confirmed Urias has confessed and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, NOLA.com reported.
Tregre says Urias is in the country illegally from El Salvador @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/ygPQOeChe6
— Rilwan Balogun (@RilwanFox8) October 26, 2020
Cox Media Group