July 14 Elmwood, LA Man kills wife, self, and 1 other

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Barbara Cavalier’s husband Chris Cavalier had been abusive towards her throughout their seven year marriage. Barbara decided to leave the relationship in January when Chris put a gun to her head. For six months Chris had no idea where she was living, and presumably had no face-to-face contact with her until he walked into the Elmwood siding supply business where Barbara was a data entry clerk, armed with 2 guns: a .45 caliber automatic pistol and a .357-caliber Magnum revolver. Authorities say Chris shot and killed his wife and another employee then took his own life. The other employee Chris murdered first was office manager Stephanie Revolta, 42, a friend of Barbara’s who stayed in the building to try and defuse the situation. Revolta made the first 911 call to authorities around 3:30 pm, but by the time a hostage negotiator arrived and members of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team rushed the building, all three were dead.
Coworkers said Chris Cavalier had been harassing his wife all day, repeatedly calling and even stealing her truck. Barbara was reported to be afraid to go home Wednesday evening, fearing her estranged husband might find out where she was now living. After the couple’s split 6 months ago, Chris began to harass his wife at work, constantly calling her during the day. Doris Deckwa said she suspects he shot Revolta because she had hung up on him when he called Wednesday. When authorities searched Chris’s house they found a note assigning power of attorney and listing some valuables that Chris wanted to give away. This note lead authorities to believe that Chris knew the day would end in bloodshed when he left his house Wednesday.