A Louisiana man was attacked in court Thursday shortly after he pleaded guilty to killing his three children in an arson fire in October.
Joseph Washington pleaded guilty to first-degree murder after prosecutors agreed to a plea deal sparing him the death penalty.
As he entered his plea, a female relative of the victims attacked him and other family members joined the brawl that ended with deputies’ intervention.
Authorities said that at least one person was taken into custody in connection with the brawl.
Washington started a fire at his ex-wife’s home killing his children; a 3-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl, and an 8-year-old boy.
The children’s mother was not home at the time of the blaze described by Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick as a “horrific” act of domestic violence.
