Kenner Police on the scene of a shooting

Three Kenner police officers shot; suspect dead after standoff

Updated: 6:35 p.m. CDT April 28, 2024

WELCOME EVERYONE. NOW WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS BIG NEWS FROM KENNER, WHERE WE LEARNED THAT THREE POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOT DURING A SWAT ROLE THAT LASTED FOR HOURS. KENNER POLICE IS NOW GIVING AN IMMEDIATE UPDATE THAT THE SUSPECT IS NOW DEAD. WDSU REPORTER COURTNEY WILLIAMS IS LIVE ON THIS STAGE. Courtney, summarize for us this press briefing that just ended a few moments ago. WHAT ARE THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS? WHAT CAN YOU TELL US TONIGHT? Well, Elizabeth, a few minutes ago we heard from the Kenner Police Department as well as Jefferson Parish, and they told us that this SWAT role has been going on since early this morning. AND THE SUSPECT WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. Now I want you all to go ahead and take a look behind me. YOU CAN SEE IT’S STILL A PRETTY ACTIVE SCENE RIGHT NOW. But what I want to tell you is that Kenner Police were called right here, to the 700 block of Farm Avenue, after two people were shot outside of a residence. NOW WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOT ARE IN A STABLE CONDITION AT THE MOMENT. NOW THE VICTIMS OF THIS SHOOTING HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. IDENTIFIED, AND THE RESIDENTS FROM WHOM THE PRINTS CAME. NOW DETECTIVES RECOGNIZE THE ADDRESS BELONGING TO A FAMILY MEMBER OF 31-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL LATHERS. HE WAS WANTED FOR AN ATTEMPTED MURDER AND A ROBBERY THAT OCCURRED EARLIER IN THE WEEK. Here in Kenner, police told us they had been looking for him for some time and knew when they heard about this residence that he was the one who was here. NOW, ONCE AGAIN, THE TEAM ENTERED THIS RESIDENCE AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED RECEIVING SHOT FROM THIS SUSPECT. NOW, DURING THIS TIME, AT LEAST ONE SWAT MEMBER HAS RETURNED THE SHOT. THREE OFFICERS WERE SHOT INTO THIS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, IF LATHERS WAS STRIKED DURING THIS INITIAL CONTACT. But we just heard at a press conference not long ago that a sniper was the one who actually took out 31-YEAR-OLD MR LATHERS. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE that Lee Joseph Lopinto is actually walking away from the stage. He just gave us this update a few minutes ago. Again, we talked to him for a few minutes and I asked him, we heard a lot of loud booms in that area and they told us that at that time we heard those booms. THE SUSPECT WAS DEAD, BUT POLICE OFFICERS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE IN THE RESIDENCE. Once they did, those flash bombs, they came into the house and they recognized that it was just the mosses that were in the house again. AFTER SHOOTING AT THE FOAM OF THE ARMORED VEHICLE, THAT IS TO SAY, THE POLICE OFFICERS RETURN TO A POSITION FROM WHICH THEY CAN SHOT AGAIN. ON THIS VEHICLE. NOW A JPSO SNIPER WAS ABLE TO SHOOTING AT FOAM, AND THIS WAS WHEN HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED ONCE AGAIN, THIS AREA IS NOW A CLEAR SCENE. PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO DRIVE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AERIAL HIGHWAY RIGHT NOW, SO IT IS NO LONGER AN ACTIVE SCENE AT THIS TIME. POLICE OFFICERS SAID THEY WISH THIS COULD END IN A WAY THAT NO ONE GETS HURT OR SERIOUSLY HURT. However, they are just happy that they were able to master it. Again, we will continue to update you as this scene develops and as we learn more information. But for now, that’s what we know. REPORTING LIVE TO KENNER, COURTNEY WILLIAMS, WDSU NEWS. Yeah, Courtney, thanks so much for this recap. LOTS OF NEW INFORMATION RELEASED OVER THE LAST FIVE MINUTES APPROXIMATELY. THE SCENE, AS COURTNEY MENTIONED, IS NOW CLEAR. OF COURSE WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED, BUT NOW LET US

Three Kenner police officers shot; suspect dead after standoff

Updated: 6:35 p.m. CDT April 28, 2024

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Kenner Police Department were on the scene of a shooting in the 700 block of Farm Avenue Sunday morning. Police confirmed the suspect, Matthew Lathers, 31, died after being shot by a JPSO deputy. Around 9:45 a.m., Kenner police were called to the residence after two people were shot outside the home. Lathers was wanted in connection with an attempted murder and armed robbery that occurred earlier this week in Kenner. A search warrant was obtained and the Kenner Police SWAT team arrived on scene to execute the warrant. The SWAT team said when they entered the residence, shots were fired at them. Kenner police confirmed three of their officers were shot and at least one SWAT member returned fire. Two of the officers have been released from the hospital and one is in stable condition. JPSO was called to the scene and Lathers began shooting at the JPSO car. JPSO says a negotiator was brought in to contact Lathers, but was unsuccessful. A JPSO deputy then shot Lathers and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

KENNER, Louisiana —

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Kenner Police Department were on the scene of a shooting in the 700 block of Farm Avenue Sunday morning.

Police confirmed the suspect, Matthew Lathers, 31, died after being shot by a JPSO deputy.

Around 9:45 a.m., Kenner police were called to the residence after two people were shot outside the home.

Lathers was wanted in connection with an attempted murder and armed robbery that occurred earlier this week in Kenner.

A search warrant was obtained and the Kenner Police SWAT team arrived on scene to execute the warrant.

The SWAT team says when they entered the residence, shots were fired in their direction.

Kenner police confirmed three of their officers were shot and at least one SWAT member returned fire.

Two of the officers have been released from hospital and one is in stable condition.

JPSO was called to the scene and Lathers began shooting at the JPSO car.

JPSO says a negotiator was brought in to contact Lathers, but was unsuccessful.

A JPSO deputy then shot Lathers and he was pronounced dead at the scene.