By LEONARD GRAY

NEW ORLEANS – A St. Rose man is one of four suspects in custody after the armed robbery of a New Orleans bar turned fatal with the shooting death of Officer Christopher Russell.

Willie Wilbon, 35, of 604 E. Club Drive, St. Rose, was booked with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and 16 counts of armed robbery.

According to Officer Juan Barnes of the New Orleans Police Department, four men were robbing the Club Tango at Spain and North Roman streets, in the St. Roch area, early Sunday when Russell drove up to the scene, just as the suspects were leaving the bar. One of the four gunmen opened fire on Russell, striking him once in the head.

The veteran officer was pronounced dead a short time later at Charity Hospital.

He leaves a wife, Bonnie, and a 13-month-old daughter, Emily. A family spokesperson said Bonnie Russell, who trains search and rescue dogs for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, was three-months pregnant with the couple’s second child.

The other suspects in custody are Michael Davis, 31; Dwight Patterson, 20; and Ronald Armstrong, 29. All had prior felony convictions, according to NOPD Sgt. Kevin Anderson.

Wilbon had a 1987 conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a New Orleans District Attorney’s office spokesperson said. Anderson said Wilbon had convictions in New Orleans and St. Charles Parish.

A telephone check with District Attorney Harry Morel’s office could not turn up a conviction in their computer records, which go back to 1995.

Police said the four men robbed 16 patrons and employees at the bar, forcing them to strip as their personal belongings were plundered. However, one victim managed to call police on a cellular telephone.

Russell, 35, a training officer and a five-year veteran of the NOPD, arrived at the scene with partner, Officer Mary Colon, around 3:30 a.m.

As three suspects left the bar, police believe Armstrong fired shots through Russell’s passenger side window, hitting him once in the head. Colon was not injured, but as the bullet passed inches from her head, the attempted murder charge was added to the suspects.

The suspects fled on foot – Davis was found two blocks away by a K-9 unit, Wilbon and Patterson were found in a pickup truck owned by Armstrong parked in the area, and Armstrong surrendered to police, Barnes said.

Services for Russell were Tuesday at noon at First English Lutheran Church in New Orleans.