Appearing from left to right, Brandon Nielson and Jeremy Triche.LAPLACE, La. – (WWL-TV/CBS) Two St. John Parish deputies were shot and killed
while interviewing suspects in an earlier shooting of a deputy at the parking
lot for contractors at Valero Energy.
Sheriff Mike Tregre said the
incident began when an officer at the parking lot was approached and shot
several times by a suspect. That officer was taken to University Hospital and is
in surgery but expected to survive, said Tregre.
Working on tips from a
civilian and another deputy, a vehicle similar to the suspect's was spotted and
tracked to a trailer park.
Tregre said that deputies knocked at the door
and had two people come outside for an interview about the shooting. He said at
that time, a third suspect exited another door and shot Deputy Brandon Nielsen,
34, and Deputy Jeremy Triche, 27, to death in what he described as a
'ambush.'
Tregre said he believes there are several suspects in custody,
some of whom suffered gunshot wounds. He said he believes officers are in
control of the situation and that no suspects are on the loose. He said the
public is not believed to be in danger.
"It's been a very difficult day,"
said an emotional Tregre. "I lost two good officers today."
Deputy Michael Boyington, 33 and Deputy Jason Triche, 30, underwent surgery
for their wounds.
The incident occurred on Highway 3217 in the Valero parking lot. The remote
parking lot is located in St. John Parish, while the actual plant is located in
St. Charles Parish.
Multiple agencies are involved, including a Jefferson Parish SWAT unit, a K-9
unit, St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, St. John Parish Sheriff's Office, New
Orleans Police Department, U.S. Marshalls, Slidell Police Department and the
state police. Also, helicopters are circling the area.
"Every day you go to work and you never know what's going to happen," said
State Police spokesperson Melissa Matey. "When you go to work you don't know if
you're going to come home. It's a very difficult day for us."
