An armed man who entered Jennings High School through an open door and threatened employees before firing the gun into the air and fleeing has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges in the 31st Judicial District Court.

Dillion Michael Champagne, 38, of Duson pleaded guilty on March 12 to multiple charges including theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated burglary, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Illegal possession of stolen things, illegal possession of stolen firearms, illegal discharge of a weapon, carrying a firearm on school property and simple criminal damage to property.

According to information released by the Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney’s Office on Monday, Champagne received 8 years at harbor labor for the theft of motor vehicle charge; 18 years at hard labor on the aggravated burglary charge; 18 years at hard labor to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence on the attempted armed robbery charge. In addition, Champagne received 10 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence  for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; 8 years at hard labor for illegal possession of stolen things, three years at hard labor for illegal possession of stolen firearms, two years at hard labor for illegal discharge of weapon; two years at hard labor for carrying a firearm on school property; two years at hard labor for simple criminal damage to property.

All sentences will run concurrently, except for the sentence for carrying a firearm on school property, which will run consecutively to the aggravated burglary sentence.

Champagne entered Jennings High School in the early morning of April 15, 2024, after abandoning a stolen vehicle on the interstate nearby. He discharged a firearm into the air, threatened school employees with a handgun, and stole a set of car keys before fleeing into the woods. No students were present at the school during the incident.

Following an all-day search, Champagne was take into custody without incident after being seen walking on the Jaenke Bridge on La. 97. Police believe Champagne, who was wet at the time of arrest, had been hiding along Bayou Nezpique, which is a tributary of the Mermentau River.

First Assistant District Attorney Alexander Guinn served as the prosecutor in this case.

The investigation was conducted by Officers Samuel Clouse, Nicholas Spencer, Christopher Gallow, Rocky Roy, Richard Geiger, Kaitlan Cormier, Richard Easley, Craig Crawford and Eduardo Mendoza of the Jennings Police Department.