This morning (May 2, 2025), an NOPD officer was seriously injured while responding to an apparent overdose incident that escalated into a violent and tragic sequence of events.

Shortly before 10:37 a.m., an NOPD officer working a paid detail was flagged down in the parking lot of the Walmart in the 1900 block of Tchoupitoulas Street in reference to a man experiencing a possible overdose while inside a vehicle. The officer responded and, while rendering aid and administering Narcan, the individual allegedly drove away from the scene suddenly with the officer still physically attached to the vehicle.

While dragging the officer, the suspect exited the Walmart parking lot onto Rousseau Street at Saint Andrew. During the struggle, the officer is believed to have discharged her service weapon, striking the suspect. The officer was subsequently dislodged from the moving vehicle and landed underneath another vehicle.

The suspect continued flight on Rousseau Street and ultimately collided with another vehicle a short distance away. NOPD Emergency Medical Responder officers were on scene and immediately rendered aid to the suspect. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Additionally, a female subject in the Walmart parking lot was struck by the suspect’s vehicle as he fled the initial scene. She was also transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries.

The officer sustained multiple injuries and is currently being treated at a local hospital, where she is currently listed in stable condition.

This incident remains under active investigation by the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau’s Force Investigation Team. Per standard protocol, the officer involved has been placed on administrative reassignment pending the outcome of the investigation.

Anyone with information that can assist in this investigation is urged to call Force Investigation Team detectives at 504-658-6800.

Have a question or correction? Please email NOPD’s Public Affairs Division at nopdpio@nola.gov.