CALCASIEU PARISH, LA (KPLC) – A Louisiana State Trooper shot in the head Sunday afternoon near Bell City was airlifted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
Trooper Steven Vincent, 43, is a 13-year veteran of the state police force, Col. Mike Edmonson said.
A suspect, Kevin Daigle, 54, is in custody. Edmonson told the Associated Press that among Daigle’s charges will be attempted murder of a police officer.
Edmonson, head of the state police, arrived in Calcasieu Parish Sunday evening, where he visited with Vincent’s family. Vincent, who is married, has a 9-year-old son.
“It doesn’t look good right now so we’re asking for prayers,” Edmonson said.
Vincent comes from a military and a law enforcement family. Vincent’s brother, Keith Vincent, is the Chief of Police in Iowa and another brother, Terrell Vincent, is also a state trooper. Steven Vincent received a meritorious service award for a 2012 traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of a Slidell bank robbery suspect.
State police are expected to hold a news conference around 9 p.m. at Memorial.
The incident happened just before 2:45 p.m. near La. 14 and Fruge Road, said Sgt. James Anderson, Troop D spokesman. The suspect’s name has not yet been released.
Anderson said Vincent was responding to a report of a pickup truck driving in an unsafe manner. The truck was found in a ditch.
Other drivers in the area restrained Daigle with Vincent’s handcuffs and gave Vincent first aid, Edmonson told the Associated Press.
Daigle was also taken to a hospital, Anderson said but did not give further details.
Daigle has two addresses listed in Jeff Davis Parish, but lives at neither one, Jeff Davis Sheriff Ivy Woods said. Daigle was living in Moss Bluff with a friend and was in his friend’s truck when the incident occurred.
“He was in our jail a couple of times,” Woods said. Charges against Daigle will include attempted murder of a police officer, State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said.
Edmonson posted the following message to Facebook:**Trooper Critically Injured – Prayers Needed**The entire LSP family is requesting your thoughts and prayers following the shooting of a Louisiana State Police Trooper in the Lake Charles area.The incident occurred as the Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a suspected impaired driver and was shot during the course of the interaction. The suspect was subsequently detained by passing motorists as additional citizens rendered aid to the Trooper until assistance arrived on the scene.Further information and the Trooper’s identity and status will be forthcoming as the investigation continues.Please take a moment from your Sunday afternoon to send prayers and well wishes to the Trooper and his family in this critical time.
Thank you and God Bless,
Colonel Michael D. Edmonson
