An investigation is underway after deputies of the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office reportedly returned fire at a woman who was shooting at them.
On July 6, deputies were dispatched to a residence on La. Highway 549 regarding a report of a distraught woman who reportedly threatened to harm herself. Upon arrival, deputies encountered an armed woman on the front steps of the residence.
Deputies spoke with the woman in an attempt to calm her down. However, according to UPSO, the situation escalated when the woman fired shots at deputies. Authorities returned fire, striking the woman multiple times. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and has since been transferred to Shreveport.
The involved deputies are on administrative leave, a standard protocol when officers are involved in a deadly force incident.
UPSO has asked the Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit to handle the investigation into the use-of-force incident.
Seven local sheriffs formed the NLSIU in 2021. Its purpose is to provide outside investigators to examine in-custody deaths and use-of-force cases in each member parish. A team of investigators from outside Union Parish is handling the investigation.
No further information has been released.
