LAPLACE, La. (WDSU) – Three people arrested in connection with a shooting that killed two St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputies and injured two others were arraigned Friday morning.
Two counts of first-degree murder of a police officer and three counts of attempted first-degree murder of an officer were filed Wednesday against Brian Smith and Kyle Joekel.
Brittney Keith was charged with two counts of principal to first-degree murder of a police officer and three counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder of an officer.
In their arraignment, Smith and Joekel pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder of St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputies Jeremy Triche and Brandon Nielsen.
Keith pleaded not guilty to being a principal to first-degree murder of Triche and Nielsen.
Nielsen, 34, was laid to rest Wednesday afternoon, two days after funeral services were held for Triche, 27. Deputies Michael Scott Boyington and Jason Triche remain hospitalized from injuries sustained in the shooting last Thursday.
As the court proceedings unfold, residents gathered at East St. John High School to donate blood for the wounded deputies.
"It's just sad, and I want to help people, so I came out and gave blood," said resident Amber Soileau.
"You know what, I know there are people in this community that care about each other," said East St. John teacher Billie Duncan.
East St. John also hosted a football jamboree Friday night, and honored the deputies in between games.
PHOTO: WDSU
