CPL. Shawn Kelly
Officer: Denham Springs Police Department, Corporal Shawn Kelly
Date: 6/2/2023 Location: Denham Springs, LA FACTORS (1,2,7,8,15,19)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Justin Roberts
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Roberts was arrested for attempted armed robbery in 2015. / Yes, “Roberts was also allegedly involved in two other road rage incidents that occurred nearby just minutes prior to shooting Cpl. Kelly.”
Mental Illness: None reported.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/30
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 4:20 p.m. on May 11, 2023, Denham Springs police officers responded to a 911 call of a road rage incident between a man and a woman in a shopping center parking lot. Upon arrival in the area, two officers located the male, Justin Roberts arguing with a woman.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Roberts immediately opened fire on the officers, seriously injuring Cpl. Kelly, before running to his car and fleeing the scene.
Reactions by the police: Officers performed CPR on Cpl. Kelly until he could be transported to a hospital where he eventually died of his injuries on June 2, 2023. Livingston Parish deputy sheriff’s quickly apprehended Roberts and fatally shot him when he exited his vehicle and threatened them with his gun.
How murdered? Cpl. Kelly was shot multiple times upon responding to a road rage incident.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? This incident demonstrates one of the many dangers police face in the course of their day - when approaching an incident, they are exposed and have no cover when a subject makes a furtive movement to access a concealed weapon.
Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Law enforcement officers were justified in using deadly force as soon as Roberts made a furtive movement to access his firearm.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Roberts was justifiably shot dead by a deputy sheriff.
Miscellaneous: There is remarkably little reporting on Roberts’ past criminal, mental health, and substance abuse history.
