WESTLAKE, La. — A deputy-involved shooting in Westlake on March 13 is under investigation after Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to a disturbance call encountered an armed suspect who refused to leave a residence for several hours, authorities said.
According to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at about 9 a.m. to a home off Miller Avenue in reference to a disturbance. When deputies arrived, they tried to speak with one of the people involved, but he refused to come outside.
According to reports from CPSO, deputies then learned that two young children and an elderly woman were still inside the residence. Authorities said deputies made repeated callouts, a law enforcement term for verbal commands or requests for someone to exit, but the suspect did not comply.
CPSO negotiators then worked for several hours in an effort to persuade the man to surrender peacefully.
Shortly before 3:30 p.m., the suspect came out of the residence and fired one round before going back inside, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities said he later exited the home again while armed with a gun. At that point, deputies fired at the suspect.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory requested that Louisiana State Police investigate the deputy-involved shooting. It is common for an outside agency to review officer-involved shootings as part of an independent investigation.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office said it will continue its own investigation into the original disturbance call.
Authorities said the elderly woman and the two children were safely removed from the home. Deputies also located and removed two other people from a camper near the residence.
No deputies were injured during the incident, according to CPSO.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information was released in the initial statement.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.