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LAPLACE — Detective Jonathan Walker has been selected Officer of the Third Quarter. With him are Sheriff Mike Tregre and Officer of the Third Quarter sponsor Greg and Beth Fincher, owners of Summit Homes.

On July 31, 2021, while off duty, Detective Walker responded to an active shooter incident on I-10. With his family, in the safety of his vehicle, nearly ½ mile from the scene, Detective Walker left his family and advanced on foot, without a radio or body armor, to assist with the active shooter incident.

A man had shot two people during a dispute during a multi-vehicle traffic accident on the Bonnet Carre Spillway in the westbound lanes of I-10 in St. John Parish. A traffic jam occurred after the accident about 10:30 p.m. on the spillway bridge. The man, who was headed to Alexandria with his wife who he had just married during a ceremony in Kenner, and her friend, were in the traffic jam. During the wait, the man and his wife got into an argument, and the man reached for his gun. The friend then escaped the car on foot.

The man exited the vehicle and shot the male friend in the leg and also shot into a nearby vehicle, injuring the hand of another driver. The man’s wife then jumped out of the car and fled to first responders who were helping victims of the collision. The EMTs helped the wife enter the ambulance.

Shortly after, officers found the suspect shaking and beating on the ambulance, trying to get to the woman. Detective Walker approached the man for apprehension. Detective Walker’s actions were instrumental in ending the threat as he handcuffed the shooter during a brief struggle.

The victims were airlifted from the scene and taken to a New Orleans hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released.

The man was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property (felony), illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, aggravated second degree battery (felony) and attempted second degree murder.

“Detective Walker was willing to sacrifice his life to save the lives of others,” Sheriff Tregre said. “I feel that this officer is the embodiment of the phrase, ‘Ours is a profession where every day, we must be prepared mentally and physically to save a life, take a life…or give your own… for the citizens we serve.’”