Cops: La. school zone shooter ID'd as fired TSA officer
PARADIS, La. - A Louisiana sheriff says the man suspected of shooting one of his deputies three times in a school zone is a fired Transportation Safety Administration officer.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne identifies the suspect as 58-year-old John Paul Devillier, currently of Gulfport, Mississippi.
Devillier was captured shortly after 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine was shot while directing traffic. CBS affiliate WWLTV reports that police say Devillier was in the area for a family event and apparently became angry after being unable to make a left turn in heavy traffic.
Devillier initially left the scene after exchanging words with Hazeltine, but WWLTV reports that Champagne said the former TSA officer returned to the school traffic scene in his car and began yelling at Hazeltine.
The deputy got out of his vehicle to approach Devillier when he noticed a gun on the dashboard, said Champagne. Hazeltine pulled out his service revolver and Champagne said Devillier stuck his hand out of the car and dangled the gun as if to surrender. At the same time, Devillier allegedly fired through his vehicle's windshield with a second gun he had in his vehicle.
"That's an ambush in my book," said Champagne.
Hazeltine returned fire but didn't strike Devillier. The deputy remained in stable but guarded condition at a New Orleans hospital Thursday afternoon. He was shot in the eye, chest and elbow.