The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is searching for murder suspect Leon Ruffin, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said at a news conference Sunday night.
Lopinto said Ruffin was transported from the Ochsner Medical Center to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center at about 6:40 p.m. following treatment for a seizure when the transport was interrupted by Ruffin creating a disturbance, prompting the escorting deputy to exit the vehicle, Fox reports.
When the deputy opened the vehicle door to address the disturbance, Lopinto said Ruffin used pepper spray on her, charged at her and stole the vehicle. The deputy responded by shooting her gun multiple times toward Ruffin, although it is unclear if any of the shots struck him.
It is also unclear where Ruffin found the pepper spray, as the deputy still had her pepper spray, Lopinto said.