VIDEO: Louisiana Officer Shot, Killed on Pedestrian Stop

What started as a pedestrian stop in Harvey's Pebble Walk neighborhood ended in the fatal shooting of a Jefferson Parish (LA) Sheriff's Office deputy Wednesday afternoon, a JPSO spokesman said.

David F. Michel Jr. was repeatedly shot while on duty by the unidentified suspect near the intersection of Manhattan Boulevard and Ascot Road, JPSO spokesman Col. John Fortunato said. Many people in nearby offices saw deputies swarm the area and Pebble Walk in search of the gunman as the Sheriff's Office's helicopter circled overheard. Authorities eventually caught the suspect during the manhunt. Fortunato said witness accounts indicate the suspect acted alone, reports the Times-Picayune.

Michel was driving a department-assigned black Dodge Charger when he stopped the suspect, who was walking near Manhattan and Ascot, authorities said. It is not clear why Michel initiated the stop. Michel's vehicle was parked in the entrance to the parking lot of a strip mall in the 2400 block of Manhattan Boulevard.

JPSO cited witnesses who described seeing a scuffle erupt between Michel and the male suspect. At some point in their interaction, the suspect withdrew a gun from his waistband and repeatedly shot the deputy around 12:21 p.m. The suspect shot Michel three times in his back, the Jefferson Parish coroner said. He then fled into Pebble Walk, Fortunato said.

"The suspect fired several shots, including when the officer was down," Fortunato said.

Minutes later, Michel, 50, was rushed to University Medical Center in New Orleans by ambulance. He died from his injuries less than an hour later.