Dollar General workers recognize sex offender wanted for killing two teenagers and kidnapping a third and lock him in the store after quietly escorting other customers out

Two Dollar General workers locked a convicted sex offender in the store and quietly escorted other customers out after they realized he was wanted on suspicion of murder. 

Neil Broussard, 51, is accused of killing Kyla Hidalgo, 17, and Kaleb Charlton, 18; wounding the girl's mother, Catherine Hidalgo, 40; and kidnapping the woman's 14-year-old daughter early Wednesday morning in the Calcasieu Parish town of Westlake. 

Broussard, of Lake Charles, surrendered to police in the Beauregard Parish community of Ragley, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Lake Charles, on Thursday after Dollar General's Sallye Salter and Tiffany Cook alerted authorities, the American Press reported.  

On Wednesday, police were contacted by phone with someone reporting that a 14-year-old was on their property on Jackson-Gimnick Loop exiting the woods. 

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Neil Broussard, escorted by law enforcement, is brought into the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office Thursday morning in Lake Charles, Louisiana after workers at a Dollar General store recognized 

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Dollar General workers Sallye Salter (right) and Tiffany Cook (left) recognized the convicted sex offender, quietly led customers out and called 911

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Broussard, 51, is accused of killing Kyla Hidalgo (left), 17, and Kaleb Charlton (right), 18

Deputies were dispatched to the area and learned that the teen was the subject reported kidnapped during the earlier homicides at a home in Westlake. 

Calcasieu deputies responding to reports of a shooting at 4am had found Kyla and Kaleb dead at the home, and  Catherine seriously wounded.

 Catherine had allegedly identified Broussard as the shooter and said he kidnapped her 14-year-old. The mother remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Her stolen car was found the same day in woods in the Ragley area, KPLC-TV reported.

Locals had reported seeing a man who matched Broussard's description, enabling about 75 officers from three sheriff's offices, state police and the FBI to sweep the area, hunting for Broussard. 

They warned that locals may hear aircraft in the area overnight but asked them to remain secure inside their homes as well as to secure vehicles and any structures that could be used to hide in. 

Cops scoured the area with K9s and ATVs and urged locals to contact 911 for anything suspicious. In the Thursday press conference Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford described Wednesday as 'a night full of worry and apprehension about what was going to happen.'

They were called to the store when the workers recognized the suspect, whose previous mug shot had been released.

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'Thank you Sallye Salter (right) and Tiffany Cook (left), you both exemplified great character in a high pressure situation,' the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post after Broussard was arrested Thursday

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Cops said about the incident at Dollar General (pictured): 'We were so close and got there within seconds and were able to apprehend him without any incidents'

Neil Broussard (left) was also wanted on more sex offense charges. His wife Tori L. Broussard (right), 41, was arrested on charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree rape and accessory after the fact to molestation of a juvenile

Broussard was convicted in 2005 and 2011 of molesting juveniles, is awaiting trial on sex charges in Texas, and was wanted on charges of first-degree rape and molestation of a juvenile in Calcasieu Parish, authorities said. 

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said during a news conference on Thursday that they 'were so close we got there within seconds and were able to apprehend him without any incidents.'

'Thank you Sallye Salter and Tiffany Cook, you both exemplified great character in a high pressure situation,' the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post after Broussard was arrested Thursday.

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Police had shared this mug shot of the sex offender before he was caught on Thursday

He has been charged on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of second-degree kidnapping.

A Calcasieu Parish judge set his bond at $4 million, news agencies reported.

His wife Tori L. Broussard, 41, was also arrested on charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree rape and accessory after the fact to molestation of a juvenile, said Kayle Vincent, spokeswoman for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. 

Tori Broussard is chief investigator at the Calcasieu Public Defenders Office. Harry Fontenot, head of the office, says she is on administrative leave pending further review, KPLC-TV reported.

'She is a good person and I think she's been falsely accused of committing these crimes,' said her attorney, Todd Clemons. 

'It’s important to point out she’s not charged, but was just arrested. I don’t know if she will be charged, but she’s presumed to be innocent and I believe she’s factually innocent. I’m confident she won’t be convicted of any crimes.'

Tori Broussard is free after posting a $50,000 bond. 

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Catherine Hidalgo, 40, was also shot on Wednesday but survived and is in serious condition