UPDATE:
MESSAGE FROM MAYOR-PRESIDENT MONIQUE B. BOULET
“I am deeply saddened to share the news of the recent loss of one of our cherished community members and a devoted officer of the Lafayette Police Department. This rare and tragic event brings us great sadness and grief. Our hearts go out to the officer’s family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.
To honor their courage and dedication, I ask that you join me in prayer and support for all those affected by this heartbreaking loss.”
UPDATE: Lafayette Police have confirmed that an officer has died.
Here's the statement they sent to us:
Early this afternoon, the Lafayette Police Department SWAT Team was assisting the Jeanerette City Marshals Office with a hostage situation in Jeanerette, LA. The incident began earlier in the day after the Jeanerette City Marshals Office was attempting to serve an arrest warrant. The suspect had multiple warrants for his arrest, and they requested the assistance of our SWAT Team. The Lafayette Police Department has a mutual aid agreement with surrounding agencies to assist in the event of a critical incident or emergency.
During the operations, the suspect fired multiple shots at Law Enforcement. Four Lafayette Police Officers were injured. Two officers were shot, and bullet fragments struck the other two officers.
All officers involved were transported to an area hospital. Three officers are currently in good condition with non-life-threatening injuries. As a result of the shooting, the fourth officer was killed in the line of duty.
The Lafayette Police Department is mourning the loss of one of our own. Please keep these officers and their families in your prayers during this tragic time.
The standoff in Jeanerette is now over, but four Lafayette Police Officers were injured.
Here's the release from Lafayette:
This afternoon a critical incident took place involving Lafayette police officers during a SWAT operation. After responding to support a neighboring agency that requested assistance in Jeanerette, four of our officers were injured, one of which remains in critical condition.
At this time, the situation is still unfolding and we are in the process of gathering all relevant details to understand the events that took place. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our officers.
We are committed to keeping the public informed as more information becomes available. Please join me in prayer for these officers, their families, and all those affected by this incident.
Louisiana State Police were called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, and they're asking anyone with photos or video of what happened to send them in.
"Investigators are working to gather information, and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is responding to process the scene. This is an active investigation; additional information will be released when it becomes available," troopers say. "Anyone with information, pictures, or video is urged to share it with LSP Detectives. You may anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting lsp.org and clicking on Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007."
Here's what the Jeanerette City Marshal told us about what happened:
At approximately 9:00 this morning The Marshal’s Office received information from a credible source that an individual now identified as 31-year-old Nyjal Hurst, was inside of a residence located in the 2500 Block of Martin Luther King Drive.
Once Marshal Deputies arrived at the residence, two individuals came out of the residence and confirmed that Hurst was inside. Hurst then barricaded himself and two others, one being a juvenile, inside the home.
Assistance was requested from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, New Iberia Police Department SWAT Team, Lafayette Police Department SWAT Team. Also assisting were Vermilion Parish Sheriff Office, Baldwin Police Department, and Jeanerette Police Department.
Hurst was known to law enforcement officers to have outstanding arrest warrants for Jeanerette Police Department for Aggravated Second Degree Battery and Home Invasion. Hurst also has arrests warrants for St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for Armed Robbery, Illegal Use of Weapons, Attempted Car Jacking, Domestic Abuse Battery Child Endangerment by Strangulation, and (2) Counts of Aggravated Battery.
After the standoff ended this afternoon, police tell us two people are in custody, and an officer was injured after police entered the house.
Officers went to a residents in the 2500 block of Martin Luther King to serve warrants, and that's when the standoff began.
