A sniper from the Jefferson Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office SWAT team ended a violent standoff when he shot and killed a gunman suspected of shooting six people this week, including three Kenner Police officers earlier Sunday April 28.
The deceased suspect was identified as 31-year-old Matthew Lathers, who was wanted for an armed robbery committed last Tuesday in Kenner in which a 56-year-old victim was shot, and for shooting and wounding two men who made the mistake Sunday of stopping in front of the residence in which Lathers was hiding, authorities told Fox 8.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto said Lathers likely mistook the two men who stopped near his house Sunday around 9:45 a.m. as police searching for him, after he was identified Thursday as the suspect in an April 23 armed robbery and attempted murder.
After those two men were shot, Kenner Police deployed a SWAT team that surrounded the residence. After more than two hours without contact with the gunman, the unit deployed a robot outfitted with a camera to enter the residence and give police a tactical assessment.
The robot became “immobilized,” and three SWAT officers entered the house.
Police say Lathers suddenly appeared with a rifle, shooting the three officers. One was hit in the arm, one in the leg and one in the stomach. All escaped and were taken to the hospital. Two were released later that day and the third was released Monday morning.
Kenner Police called for assistance, and the JPSO dispatched its own SWAT team to the scene.
The suspect was killed by a JPSO SWAT sniper.
