Officer Down: (Updated)

Tragic news this morning.

A Shreveport Officer, Sgt. Tim Prunty, pictured below, was shot and killed while on duty last night.  From The Times:

The incident happened at around 3:30 this morning . Sgt. Prunty stood beside his patrol car outside the Circle K in the 3300 block of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop when a man pulled into the parking lot and opened fire, police said.  The suspect, 24 year old Chris Cope, fled the scene. Sgt. Prunty was taken to LSU Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.  Based on witness accounts of Cope's car, police located the car going north on Pines Rd. near W. 70th Street. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused, police said. Officers then pursued Cope until he pulled over on Rasberry Lane near Financial Plaza. He was taken into custody without incident.

Officers searched the car and found a firearm investigators believe was used in the shooting.  Police said Cope was then taken to the Shreveport Police Complex where he confessed to shooting Prunty.  [Cope] will be charged with first degree murder of a police officer.

This enrages me that this officer, just standing there in the parking lot, is gunned down in a completely unprovoked manner.  It's never okay, of course, but according to reports, this officer had no run ins or conflict this this suspect.  What kind of scumbag would do something like this?  One of the comments on the KTBS story suggested putting the hanging gallows back in the courthouse square for something like this.  I'd have to agree with him on that one.

You can follow the developing story at The Times, KTBS, KSLA, or over at My Bossier.


Sgt. Prunty's twin brother is also a Shreveport Police Officer.  Prayers, of course, to the family.

I'll follow up here with details of services or memorials for the family as news breaks.

Update:  Here's the video of the news conference by Chief Shaw via KSLA:



Update 10:55:  The Times has the suspect's picture.  I'm not going to publish it, but if you want to look at the scumbag, it's here.

Update 12:30:  Mayor Glover has ordered all municipal flags to be lowered to half staff.  The Officer Down Memorial Page now has an entry for Sgt. Prunty.

 Update 5:10:  KTBS reported on their broadcast this evening that the suspect is the son of a retired SPD Captain.  Bless that poor family, too.  Good grief this world amazes me.  The suspect is 24 years old and had three prior misdemeanors.

Update 7:15:  A Cop's Watch has memorialized Sgt. Prunty.

Shreveport Police Lose One of Their Own

Sad news today:  Sgt. Greg Washam, a veteran Shreveport police officer, has died after emergency surgery related to a cerebral hemorrhage he suffered last week.  He'd been on the force for 20 years.  He was also in the United States Army Reserves where he reached the rank of Lt. Col.

He was 45 years old, married, and the father of two sons, ages 11 and 16 months.

From the website of his family:

In a eulogy posted by friend and co-worker, Shreveport Police Cpl. R.T. Edwards writes, "Lieutenant Colonel Greg Washam: Greg has fought this last battle with all his heart, giving no quarter, but today he received the order to withdraw. Greg ignored the order refusing to give up his position until the very last minute. On the 20th day of June in the year 2010; LtCol GD Washam broke camp and withdrew to his final position. He has rallied with those who fell before him, he is in very good company. "All the way Sir!" He will be missed but never forgotten."

There's been a trust fund set up to help the family.  Go here.