19-Year-Old Fearing Break In Shot By Deputies After Answering Door Holding Shotgun

LIVINGSTON, LA - A 19-year-old Livingston, La. man opened the door to his home when he saw people in his front yard around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday. He was holding a shot gun when he opened the door, and that is when deputies shot him four times, according to his mother.

Matthew Peyronnin's mother says it all started when her son sent a picture of a gun and a threat that he was going to hurt himself to a girl. The girl called 911 and the deputies went to the home for a welfare check.

Matthew's mother says her son did not know who was in the front yard, and no one identified themselves when they knocked on the door, and that is why he was holding the shotgun.

"He came and woke me up. At this time I was sleeping on the couch and he said 'mom, mom I believe someone's trying to get into the house. I think it's a couple of people.' I get up. He opens the door. He has his gun to his side and Livingston Parish just opened fire and shot my son four times," said Matthew's mother Tabatha Peyronnin.

Louisiana State Police said deputies arrived at the scene and made contact with Peyronnin on the front porch of the residence, at which time Peyronnin raised a shotgun in the direction of the deputies. Confronted with the weapon, a deputy with LPSO fired and struck Peyronnin several times.

Tabatha claims the deputies did not say they were with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office or why they were there until after the shots were fired.