Louisiana State Trooper Steven Vincent dies after being shot in line of duty

(Source: KPLC)
(Source: KPLC)
Published: Aug. 23, 2015 at 8:10 PM CDT|Updated: Oct. 22, 2015 at 10:00 PM CDT
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Steven Vincent (Source: Facebook)
Steven Vincent (Source: Facebook)
(Source: KPLC)
(Source: KPLC)

CALCASIEU PARISH, LA (KPLC) - A Louisiana State Trooper died Monday morning after he was shot in the head with a shotgun Sunday afternoon near Bell City, authorities said.

Trooper Steven Vincent, 44, a 13-year veteran of the state police force, was airlifted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead Monday morning, Col. Mike Edmonson said. Vincent, a veteran, was married with a 9-year-old son. Both of his brothers are in law enforcement — Keith Vincent is the Chief of Police in Iowa and Terrell Vincent is a fellow state trooper.

A suspect, Kevin Daigle, 54, was arrested. For more on Daigle's criminal history, click HERE.

Authorities said Vincent was responding to a call of a vehicle driving erratically around 2:45 p.m. Sunday. When he arrived, a Dodge pickup truck driven by Daigle was in a ditch at the corner of La. 14 and Fruge Road.

Edmonson said video of the shooting showed Vincent trying to convince Daigle to get out of the truck and let him help him get the truck out of the ditch. For Edmonson's full news conference, click HERE.

"I watched as that truck door came open and I saw a shotgun blast," Edmonson said. "This guy was carrying a sawed-off shotgun. Let me tell you something, that shotgun wasn't to do anything else but hurt somebody, kill somebody."

Shot, Vincent attempted to go back to his unit to call for help, Edmonson said.

Daigle exited his truck and walked to Vincent, speaking to him and asking him if he was still alive, Edmonson said.

"You're lucky, you're lucky, you're going to die soon," Daigle told Vincent.

More than one drivers passing by stopped to help, including one who turned around, and "encountered" Daigle, Edmonson said, The man wrested the shotgun from Daigle, wrestled Daigle to the ground and used Vincent's handcuffs to restrain him. The passers-by also gave aid to Vincent.

Edmonson described Vincent as a "good guy" who had run a marathon the night before. Steven Vincent received a meritorious service award for a 2012 traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of a Slidell bank robbery suspect.

Edmonson posted the following message to Facebook:

**Trooper Critically Injured – Prayers Needed**

The entire LSP family is requesting your thoughts and prayers following the shooting of a Louisiana State Police Trooper in the Lake Charles area.

The incident occurred as the Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a suspected impaired driver and was shot during the course of the interaction. The suspect was subsequently detained by passing motorists as additional citizens rendered aid to the Trooper until assistance arrived on the scene.

Further information and the Trooper's identity and status will be forthcoming as the investigation continues.

Please take a moment from your Sunday afternoon to send prayers and well wishes to the Trooper and his family in this critical time.

Thank you and God Bless,
Colonel Michael D. Edmonson

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