9-12-23
A MAN, WHO WAS WOUNDED IN AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING IN RAYNE LATE THURSDAY NIGHT, DIED FRIDAY NIGHT, ACCORDING TO THE ACADIA PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE. RICHARD SONNIER HAD BARRICADED HIMSELF IN A HOUSE ON EAST JEFFERSON DAVIS AVENUE IN RAYNE AND HAD A RIFLE. HE REPORTEDLY FIRED MULTIPLE ROUNDS AND SUSTAINED A GUNSHOT WOUND. STATE POLICE DETECTIVES ARE INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING.
LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED LATE MONDAY MORNING AT THE BROOK POINTE APARTMENTS ON NORTH PIERCE STREET. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, THEY FOUND A WOMAN WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND, WHO IS NOW IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT A HOSPITAL. THEY DETERMINED THE SHOOTER WAS ALLEGEDLY HER EX-BOYFRIEND, TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD NORVEL ETIENNE OF MORGANZA. STATE POLICE SPOTTED HIM LATER DRIVING ON I-FORTY-NINE AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL HIM OVER, BUT HE DIDN’T STOP UNTIL THE BUNKIE EXIT IN AVOYELLES PARISH, WHERE HE ALLEGEDLY KILLED HIMSELF WITH A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT.
NEARLY ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE WHO CALLED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE HUNG UP WHILE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR’S OFFICE. THEY FOUND THE AVERAGE WAIT TIME FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER A CALL ON THE HOTLINE WAS ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES HAS STRUGGLED TO HIRE AND KEEP STAFFERS. THE SECRETARY FOR THE AGENCY, TERI PORCHE RICKS, WROTE IN RESPONSE THAT THEY WILL RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES AND DEVELOP TARGETS FOR LIVE CALLS, CALLBACKS, SPEED TO ANSWER, ABANDONED CALLS AND MORE.
LAST NIGHT THE ELTON TOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSED A PAY INCREASE FOR THE TOWN’S POLICE CHIEF AT A SPECIAL MEETING. CHIEF BRUCE LEMELLE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE TO FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, UP FROM THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, WHICH THE COUNCIL GAVE HIM IN MARCH. HE ASKED FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING. THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO BUMP HIS PAY TO FORTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY BUT WILL HOLD A FINAL VOTE ON THE DECISION AT NEXT MONTH’S MEETING.
THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING ON SUNDAY. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
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LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PURCHASING LAND FOR A NEW NORTHEAST REGIONAL LIBRARY. MOST IN ATTENDANCE SPOKE OUT IN FAVOR OF BUILDING A NEW LIBRARY OVER LEASING ALREADY EXISTING SPACE. THEY ERUPTED IN CHEERS WHEN THE BOARD VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PURCHASING PROPERTY. THE BOARD LEARNED, IF THEY TAKE ACTION NOW TO PURCHASE THE LAND, THE NEW LIBRARY WILL BE COMPLETED BY LATE IN THE YEAR TWENTY-TWENTY-SEVEN OR IN TWENTY-TWENTY-EIGHT.
THE CAMPAIGN FOR LOUISIANA GOVERNOR HEATS UP THIS FRIDAY WHEN THE TOP SEVEN CANDIDATES TAKE THE STAGE FOR A GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE AT THE KLFY STUDIOS IN LAFAYETTE. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL ABUSE BY EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES AT THE PARISH JAIL. MULTIPLE VIDEOS HAVE BEEN SHARED ONLINE SHOWING INMATES BEING SLAPPED, SLAMMED ON A DESK, CHOKED AND MACED. SHERIFF CHARLES GUILLORY TELLS KLFY TV THAT STATE POLICE MADE HIM AWARE OF THE VIDEOS AND, HE SAYS, THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED BEFORE HE BECAME SHERIFF. GUILLORY SAYS STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AND ONE PARTICULAR OFFICER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY.
