New Orleans Police Department body-worn camera video released today shows the encounter that led to an officer-involved shooting, wounding a subject in the leg March 10.
Officers Isaiah Shannon and Markus Caldwell were investigating a suspicious vehicle in the 4300 block of Werner Drive off of Chef Menteur Highway, when he got into a scuffle with one of the car's occupants.
"And during the struggle, Officer Shannon did in fact have his weapon in his hand at the time of this struggle," said New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson.
Chief Ferguson said Officer Shannon's gun went off, and the bullet went through the leg of Anthony Cowart.
The chief said body-worn camera video shows that Officer Shannon had his gun in his hand when the scuffle began, which may be a violation of department policy.
The driver of the car sped away after the shooting, and Chief Shaun Ferguson asked that person to come forward
"I am asking, we're pleading, our investigators are asking that that driver please come forward, that we may obtain a formal statement about this officer-involved shooting," said Ferguson, even encouraging the individual to come with an attorney, or meet with the New Orleans Independent Police Monitor.
At the request of the District Attorney's Office, a magistrate found there was no probable cause for Cowart's arrest.
