Authorities have released the names of the Chitimacha tribal police officer who was killed and the two sheriff's deputies who were wounded Saturday in shootings near a south Louisiana casino.
The slain officer, Sgt. Rick Riggenbach, was a four-year veteran of the tribal police department who also served 10 years as a St. Mary Parish sheriff's deputy. At a press briefing Monday, a Louisiana State Police spokesman called Riggenbach a hero whose actions prevented other people from being hurt.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said his two wounded deputies, 23-year-old Jason Javier and 24-year-old Matthew Strickland, "seem to be recovering well."
Wilbert Thibodeaux, of Charenton, was arrested on murder charges for allegedly gunning down an elderly man and setting fire to a mobile home before shooting the officers.