Homicide

Louisiana State Police: Man who shot trooper said, 'You're lucky. You're going to die soon'

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This photo released by the Louisiana State Police shows Kevin Daigle, 54, of Lake Charles, La. A Louisiana state trooper was shot in the head and critically injured Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, during a struggle with a man whose pickup truck had run into a ditch after being reported as driving erratically, Louisiana State Police said. Col. Michael Edmonson, head of state police, said the arrested man, Daigle, had a number of previous arrests, though he did not know details. He said he did not know all the charges that Daigle will face, but they will include attempted murder of a police officer. (Louisiana State Police via AP) (The Associated Press)

This photo released by the Louisiana State Police shows Kevin Daigle, 54, of Lake Charles, La. A Louisiana state trooper was shot in the head and critically injured Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, during a struggle with a man whose pickup truck had run into a ditch after being reported as driving erratically, Louisiana State Police said. Col. Michael Edmonson, head of state police, said the arrested man. Col. Mike Edmonson, head of the Louisiana State Police, says 43-year-old Senior Trooper Steven Vincent died Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, at a hospital in Lake Charles, La. (Louisiana State Police via AP) (The Associated Press)

The head of the Louisiana State Police says a man accused of shooting a state trooper with a sawed-off shotgun told him afterward, "You're lucky — you're going to die soon."

Col. Mike Edmonson said Sunday night that 43-year-old Senior Trooper Steven Vincent was fighting for his life after being shot in the head by a man whose pickup truck was stuck sideways in a ditch.

Edmonson says 54-year-old Kevin Daigle of Lake Charles, was under arrest at a hospital where he was taken after other motorists saw the fallen policeman and wrestled Daigle to the ground.

Edmonson says police video showed Vincent professionally trying to talk a man out of the truck.

He said the truck door opened and Daigle came out with the shotgun.