2 weeks ago
April 29 (UPI) -- Authorities successful Louisiana said a SWAT sniper fatally changeable a gunman, ending a multi-hour standoff during which nan equipped assailant wounded 3 constabulary officers and 2 bystanders.
The standoff took spot Sunday astatine a residence successful Kenner, La., located wrong nan suburban metropolis of New Orleans.
The deceased fishy has been identified arsenic 31-year-old Michael Lathers.
Police had been investigating Lathers for an attempted execution and robbery that took spot past week astir a artifact distant erstwhile he opened occurrence Sunday greeting connected 2 group sitting successful a conveyance extracurricular his residence.
Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto told reporters during a property conference that nan 2 bystanders were either coming to aliases leaving religion and had incidentally stopped extracurricular nan residence, and that authorities judge Lathers changeable them reasoning they were police.
"He knew that they were looking for him," he said.
The 2 bystanders were taken to a section infirmary wherever they were listed successful unchangeable condition.
Officers pinch nan Kenner Police Department past responded to nan scene, recognizing nan location was connected to Lathers and obtained a hunt warrant.
After 2 hours of failing to execute nan warrant, SWAT deployed a robot into nan residence that was past "immobilized," Kenner Police Capt. Michael Cunningham said.
Three SWAT officers past sustained gunshot wounds arsenic they attempted to free nan robot, he said.
One was changeable successful nan arm, different successful nan limb and nan 3rd successful nan stomach, he said, stating 2 of nan 3 person been released from nan infirmary pinch nan different listed successful unchangeable condition.
After nan 3 officers were shot, Parish County SWAT was called successful for assistance and took complete nan scene, Lopinto said.
Lathers was changeable by a sniper astir an hr later arsenic he came extracurricular of nan residence pinch his rifle, he said.
"He's been declared deceased astatine nan scene," Lopinto said.
He said his agency has taken complete nan investigation.
