4-20-26
A MAN WHO ESCAPED CUSTODY WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH JAIL, WAS KILLED IN AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING. MICHAEL VAVASSEUR LED POLICE ON A CHASE AND, AT ONE POINT, NEARLY HIT A CARENCRO POLICE OFFICER. POLICE SAY THAT, AFTER COLLIDING WITH A POLICE CAR ON NORTH WILDERNESS TRAIL IN CARENCRO, VAVASSUER RAN, THEN STOPPED AND FIRED ON OFFICERS, WHO RETURNED FIRE, KILLING HIM. A K-NINE WITH THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE WAS SHOT AND IS IN STABLE CONDITION.
CARENCRO POLICE HAVE ARRESTED FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD BARRETT COLEMAN OF LAFAYETTE FOR FELONY HIT-AND-RUN. THE VICTIM, WHO’S NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE ON NORTHWEST EVANGELINE THRUWAY JUST NORTH OF GLORIA SWITCH AT AROUND THREE SUNDAY MORNING. POLICE SAY COLEMAN ALLEGEDLY STRUCK THE VICTIM AND RETURNED TO THE SCENE TWICE WITHOUT RENDERING AID OR CALLING FOR HELP. THE VICTIM’S BODY WAS FOUND IN A GRASSY MEDIAN BY A PASSING MOTORIST SUNDAY MORNING AT AROUND EIGHT.
A PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED IN A HIT-AND-RUN IN IBERIA PARISH. THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JAMES BUTEAUX OF NEW IBERIA WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE AT AROUND THREE-THIRTY FRIDAY MORNING WHILE WALKING ON AVERY ISLAND ROAD. HE DIED AT THE SCENE. STATE POLICE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIT AND RUN.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CANCELLED PLANS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND SPECIAL MEETING CONCERNING THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF COMEAUX HIGH SCHOOL. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER A JUDGE IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ISSUED AN ORDER PROHIBITING THE BOARD FROM TAKING FURTHER ACTION ON COMEAUX HIGH UNTIL AFTER A TRIAL LATER THIS MONTH. THE BOARD EARLIER LAST WEEK VOTED TO RESCIND A PREVIOUS VOTE CLOSING THE SCHOOL. ON THURSDAY, THE BOARD HAD SCHEDULED A PUBLIC HEARING AND A SPECIAL MEETING TO VOTE ON THE CLOSURE FOR THIS THURSDAY.
AN INMATE AT A FEDERAL PRISON IN OAKDALE DIED LAST WEEK. SIXTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD BERNARD MURPHY OF VIRGINIA WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE AT AROUND NOON THURSDAY. HOSPITAL STAFF ATTEMPTED TO REVIVE HIM BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. OFFICIALS SAY NO OTHER INMATES WERE INJURED AND THE PUBLIC WAS NEVER IN DANGER. AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
SAINT MARTINVILLE RESIDENTS WHO USE CITY WATER ARE UNDER A BOIL WATER ADVISORY. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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OPELOUSAS POLICE ARRESTED A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD MALE JUVENILE FOR ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. AUTHORITIES DETERMINED AFTER AN INVESTIGATION THAT THE SUSPECT AND VICTIM WERE IN A RELATIONSHIP. APPARENTLY AN ARGUMENT ESCALATED AND THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY PRODUCED A GUN AND SHOT THE VICTIM IN THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. THE WOUND WAS NOT LIFE-THREATENING.
A FORMER MAYOR OF SAINT MARTINVILLE HAS DIED. THOMAS NELSON SERVED AS MAYOR FOR TWELVE YEARS, LEADING THE CITY THROUGH STEADY GROWTH AND PROGRESS. BEFORE THAT HE WAS A POLICE JUROR FOR TWENTY-SIX YEARS REPRESENTING THE CADE AREA. CITY OFFICIALS SAY NELSON WAS COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND FOR HIS BELIEF THAT LEADERSHIP MEANT SHOWING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
