Troopers are working to determine if a deputy was justified in shooting a man dead during a police chase.
"On April 24, 2022, at approximately 7:00 a.m., deputies with the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office located a stolen Ford F-450 traveling east on Louisiana Highway 398 toward Labadieville," Trooper Ross Brennan said in a news release.
He explained that deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not stop.
"26-year-old Rhett Thibodeaux of Larose... fled from the deputies."
Brennan said that when the pickup truck came to a stop in the roadway, pursuing deputies stopped behind the truck.
"Thibodeaux placed the Ford into reverse, traveled backwards toward the deputies, and rammed two of the sheriff’s office units."
It was then that Thibodeaux was shot.
"During the course of the interaction, one of the deputies discharged his service weapon toward the Ford. The Ford traveled forward before going off the roadway and coming to a stop."
The trooper said that Thibodeaux was struck by gunfire and transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he later died.
"No deputies were injured during the incident."
The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab processed the scene for evidence.
"This is an active investigation and further information will be released when it becomes available."
The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office called in Louisiana State Police to investigate the deputy-involved shooting.
