Two men are dead and a JPSO detective is hospitalized after an undercover drug operation ended in a shooting Wednesday (March 27) in Terrytown, authorities said. Here’s what we know Thursday.
When and where?
The shooting happened at 10:22 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of an IHOP restaurant in Terrytown. The restaurant is near the intersection of the Westbank Expressway and Terry Parkway by Oakwood Center.
What happened?
JPSO detectives in plainclothes were trying to buy drugs from two men in a car as part of an undercover drug operation, according to JPSO Sheriff Joseph Lopinto. He said the reported drug suppliers arrived and the deputies pulled in and used their vehicles in an attempt to block in the car. As deputies got out of their vehicles, Lopinto said, the car’s driver put his vehicle in reverse and sped up, hitting one of the detectives with the car. Then, Lopinto said, the driver rammed the undercover detective’s vehicle.
Detectives fired at the driver in the car, hitting him and killing him at the scene. Lopinto said the bullets went through the driver’s side and hit the male passenger. The passenger was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Who was shot?
A JPSO detective was shot in the abdomen, apparently by another deputy, and taken to University Medical Center in critical condition, Lopinto said. He underwent surgery and his vital signs were stable early Thursday, Lopinto said. The detective had internal injuries that “he will have to recover from for a period of time,” the sheriff said. The detective’s name has not been released.
The driver of the car was shot by deputies and killed at the scene. His name and age have not been released.
The passenger of the car was shot by deputies and died later at a hospital. His name and age have not been released.
Another deputy was hit by the car and he declined to be treated at a hospital. His name has not been released.
Who shot the deputy?
Lopinto said it appeared the deputy was shot by friendly fire. Here’s what the sheriff said at an early morning press conference:
“From what our preliminary investigation is ... one of our detectives was also injured by our -- probably -- our gunfire. He was on the passenger side of the (vehicle)... One of those projectiles went through and through both of the windows and struck him in the abdomen.”
What’s next?
JPSO at 2 a.m. Thursday said the investigation was in “its earliest stages.”
Investigators were processing the crime scene Thursday morning and taking statements from the detectives at the scene. It wasn’t immediately clear how many detectives were there during the shooting.
Lopinto said the suspected drug car would be towed back to the crime lab to be processed.
“Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” a JPSO press release said.
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporter Laura McKnight contributed to this story.
Carlie Kollath Wells is a morning reporter at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Have an early-bird tip? Send it to her: cwells@nola.com or Twitter @carlie_kollath.
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