Houma, Louisiana - Louisiana State Police investigators are examining a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred during a traffic stop attempt in Lafourche Parish on September 8, 2025.
The incident began shortly before 4:00 p.m. when a Louisiana State Police trooper attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop. The driver refused to comply with the trooper's signals, prompting a vehicle pursuit through the area.
The chase continued until the suspect vehicle turned onto Lake Long Drive in Houma, where it reached a dead end and came to a stop. At that location, a passenger exited the vehicle, and the pursuing trooper discharged his service weapon, striking the individual.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene, but the passenger was pronounced deceased at the location. The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of family members.
Following the shooting, the driver of the vehicle fled the scene, reinitiating the pursuit with law enforcement. The second chase concluded when the suspect vehicle crashed on Louisiana Highway 1 near Lefort Bypass Road. The driver was subsequently taken into custody without further incident.
Louisiana State Police serves as the lead investigative agency for the case. The Force Investigation Unit and Bureau of Investigations have been assigned to conduct a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Personnel from the Force Investigation Unit are currently processing the scene for evidence.
The investigation remains active and ongoing as detectives work to establish a complete timeline of events. Additional details will be released as they become available through the investigative process.
Louisiana State Police has requested assistance from the public in gathering information related to the incident. Anyone who witnessed the events or possesses photographs or video footage is encouraged to contact investigators.
Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system, accessible by visiting lsp.org and selecting "Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity." Alternatively, information can be provided by calling the Louisiana State Police Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.
Officer-involved shootings typically undergo extensive investigation protocols to ensure transparency and accountability. The Force Investigation Unit specializes in examining cases where law enforcement officers discharge their weapons during the course of their duties.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.