The Associated Press
Marksville, La. (AP) -- A state trooper, fearing that a driver pulled over during a Wednesday morning traffic stop was reaching for a weapon, shot and killed the man, a state police spokesman said.
No weapon was found on the dead man following the shooting, said Sgt. Howard McKee.
McKee said the driver was stopped about 4:30 a.m. four miles north of Marksville on Louisiana Highway 1 in Avoyelles Parish. The man repeatedly refused to comply with the trooper’s commands and at some point made an ``erratic movement’’ as though he was about to pull a weapon, McKee said.
The trooper, whose name was not released, shot the man once, killing him.
The man is from Texas. His identity was being withheld while relatives were located, McKee said.
McKee said state police were investigating the shooting along with the Avoyelles Parish sheriff and the district attorney.