The NOPD today (February 4, 2020) released to media video footage captured from officer’s body worn and dashboard cameras during an officer-involved shooting incident on January 25, 2020.

The video, released under the department’s protocol regarding instances of officer-involved shootings, clearly shows how quickly events unfolded from the time NOPD officers first arrived at the scene to the moment when the use of deadly force was required.

At 7:26 a.m. on January 25, NOPD received multiple calls of an intoxicated subject pointing a firearm at random individuals in the area of Bourbon and St. Louis streets. People fleeing the scene flagged down responding officers and directed them to the armed subject, later identified as 25-year-old Austin Bentel, who was heard and observed to be screaming and shouting profanities as he walked along the street. 

Seconds after the first officer arrived on scene, Bentel was seen to approach the officer, draw a firearm and point it at that officer before the officer could exit her marked police unit. The officer, along with three other officers approaching on foot, then fired a total of 15 shots at Bentel, which resulted in Bentel being struck multiple times. Bentel was transported to an area hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. None of the officers were injured as a result of the shooting.

“As shown in the video, officers had little time to react other than to defend themselves against the aggressive actions of this perpetrator,” NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said.

Per standard protocol in a case when an officer’s duty weapon is discharged, the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau’s Force Investigation Team (FIT) immediately opened an investigation into the incident.

The four responding officers in this incident were:

• Officer Ryeisha Warren (3 years, 11 months with NOPD)
• Officer Steven Nolan (12 years, 9 months with NOPD)
• Recruit Matthew Tippett (10 months with NOPD)
• Recruit Sierra Cochran (6 months with NOPD)

Of the 15 total shots fired by officers, Warren and Tippett each fired six shots, while Nolan fired two shots and Cochran fired one shot.

A 9mm semi -automatic handgun was recovered from Bentel’s possession in this incident. Investigators believe Bentel was pulling the trigger during the incident, but that his firearm did not discharge. It was later learned there was no magazine or ammunition in Bentel’s firearm at the time of the shooting. 

Investigators determined that Bentel had been drinking for several hours prior to the incident.

City-owned public safety cameras captured footage of this incident, and relevant footage has been shared with the NOPD by the Real Time Crime Center.

As of this writing, Bentel remains in a local hospital recovering from his injuries while in the custody of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Per standard protocol, all four officers involved in the incident have been reassigned to administrative duties while investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with any additional information regarding this incident is asked to call the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau at 504-658-6800.