MJP –
The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office has released the name of the man fatally shot by an officer during a drug investigation in Marrero on Thursday morning.
Wendell Smith, 42, of New Orleans, was pronounced dead at University Medical Center where he was taken for treatment, according to Spokesperson Tim Geneva. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
Smith was shot during an investigation by the Major Crimes Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional team with officers from the Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Offices, as well as Gretna Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Harahan Police Department and Westwego Police Department.
The shooting occurred about 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of 10th Street and Medical Center Boulevard in Marrero, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto. His agency is handling the investigation into the shooting.
An unnamed officer shot Smith, who was in a vehicle that was trying to flee the scene, according to Lopinto. Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Gerald Turlich confirmed to WWL Louisiana that one of his deputies shot Smith.
Lopinto on Thursday did not disclose any details about the nature of the narcotics investigation or what prompted the officer to open fire.
According to authorities, Smith continued driving southbound on Medical Center Boulevard and then onto Mimosa Street, finally coming to a stop in front of a house on Mimosa near Patriot Street.
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Sheriff’s Office investigators recovered a gun and drugs that Lopinto said were thrown from the vehicle into canals during Smith’s flight.
No other information was immediately available.
