Louisiana

Officer, woman die; suspect critical after shooting himself

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Sylvester Holt, bottom right, pleads with officers as while standing on the ledge of the Crescent City Connection Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in New Orleans. Holt was wanted in the connection with the shooting of his wife and a Westwego police officer. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) (The Associated Press)

Sylvester Holt, left, is lifted off the ledge of the Crescent City Connection by an officer Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in New Orleans. Holt was wanted in the connection with the shooting of his wife and a Westwego police officer. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) (The Associated Press)

Sylvester Holt, bottom left, pleads with officers while standing on a ledge of the Crescent City Connection Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in New Orleans. Holt was wanted in the connection with the shooting of his wife and a Westwego police officer. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) (The Associated Press)

Michael Louviere (LOO'-vih-her) apparently believed he had happened upon the scene of a traffic accident.

Instead, authorities say, the 26-year-old off-duty police officer in the New Orleans suburb of Westwego came upon the aftermath of horrific domestic violence that would cost him his life.

Louviere was one of two people shot to death Friday morning in mayhem that ended with a suicidal suspect shooting himself during an hours-long standoff with police — a standoff that unfolded as he stood on the girder of a bridge high over the Mississippi River. The suspect, 32-year-old Sylvester Holt, was in critical condition late Friday.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says that, during negotiations on the bridge, Holt admitted shooting his ex-girlfriend 32-year-old Simone (sih-MONE') Veal and Louviere.