Governor Bobby Jindal issued an Executive Order Monday that calls for the flags on all state buildings be flown at half-staff until Friday, August 28 to honor Senior Trooper Steven Vincent who passed away Monday after being shot in the line of duty.
Vincent, a 13-year veteran of the state police force, was shot after stopping to help 54-year-old Kevin Daigle, whose pickup truck was stuck in a ditch in Lake Charles Parish.
In his press conference, Col. Michael Edmonson, the police force’s superintendent describes seeing a video of Vincent approaching Daigle’s vehicle, hearing him offer Daigle help and then seeing Vincent get shot by a sawed off shot gun.
“That shotgun wasn’t to do anything else, but hurt somebody; kill somebody,” Edmondson stated in his press conference Monday.
Daigle reportedly told Vincent, “You’re lucky you are going to die soon.” Daigle tried to flee the scene, but other motorists wrestled away the shotgun and handcuffed the suspect with Vincent’s handcuffs until authorities arrived on-scene.
Daigle currently is facing a first-degree murder of a police officer charge. Edmondson did not indicate whether more charges would be added.
Governor Jindal released this statement along with his Executive Order, “Steven was an honorable husband, father and State Trooper who courageously served our state for over a decade.
Brave men and women like Steven put their lives in danger every day to protect our families, and we are extremely grateful to them for keeping us safe.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Steven’s family and all of our law enforcement members as we mourn this tragic loss.”