All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Lafayette, LA (March 18, 2026) – A Lafayette Parish man is behind bars after an incident near Maurice where a 40-year-old woman was assaulted and a dog was fatally injured.
Lafayette Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to the 400 block of Petite Road just after 11 a.m. Tuesday in reference to a domestic disturbance involving a weapon. Deputies said Joshua Carpenter, 41, armed himself with a machete before attacking his dog and assaulting a female victim at the residence who was attempting to call 911.
Carpenter was arrested and taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on charges of Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault, Interfering with Emergency Communication and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals.
This case remains under investigation. No further details are available at this time.
