Kill or Be Killed is investigating the shooting of Burt Templet, who was shot dead by his teenage son, Anthony Templet, during an argument at their home in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.
The case received a lot of attention nationwide because Anthony was spared jail after the authorities concluded he had been abused for years by Burt.
On June 3, 2019, 17-year-old Anthony and 53-year-old Burt began arguing about the teenager’s cellphone. Burt had allegedly been going through the phone to see if his son had had contact with Burt’s ex-wife, Susan Templet.
Anthony later claimed that his drunken father had tried to hit him, but he escaped and ran into his father’s room, locking the door. Anthony grabbed a gun and fired three shots at his father.
He then dialed 911, telling the operator, “He tried to attack me. Then, we got into a fistfight. Then, I ran in his room, closed the door, and got a gun. As I unlocked the door, he tried to [inaudible], and then I shot him. I just killed my dad. I shot him three times.”
Anthony told the operator he had been aiming for his father’s head and that he didn’t know what condition Burt was in, but he knew he had hit him because he saw blood on the floor. Burt was later transported to a hospital but passed away a few days later.
Anthony was arrested and initially charged with second-degree murder, which was later reduced to manslaughter.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelAnthony Templet suffered years of abuse from Burt Templet
The investigation revealed years of abuse by Burt on his son that included denying him an education and tracking his every movement through video cameras and location apps.
In the months before his death, ex-wife Susan Templet had issued a restraining order against Burt, accusing him of knocking out one of her teeth.
After Anthony’s arrest, his family came forward to say that they had been looking for him for over a decade. Anthony’s sister, Natasha, told reporters that Burt had snatched his son from their home in Texas when Anthony was just five years old, and they hadn’t seen him since.
Natasha said, “[Anthony] has been secluded and abused all these years by his own father. My brave brother had to defend himself for the last time against that evil man.” She added, “Burt and my mom were together for about ten years, and it was extremely violent.”
Anthony Templet convicted of negligent homicide in Burt Templet death
In March 2021, Anthony pleaded no contest to negligent homicide. The judge spared him actual jail time but sentenced him to five years of supervised probation with credit for time served.
Prosecutor Dana Cummings agreed with the decision to spare Anthony jail time. Cummings said, “What would time in jail do for this young man who has never actually had a chance to learn or to have friends or to be in the world. What would that achieve? I just think it would keep him from ever being able to be productive.
Anthony’s attorney, Jarrett Ambeau, said his client finally had a chance at life, having escaped his father’s prison.
As part of his sentence, Anthony was ordered to obtain a high school diploma and attend counseling before attaining full-time employment.
Kill or Be Killed airs Saturdays at 9/8c on Oxygen.