A sheriff’s deputy from St. John the Baptist Parish was fatally shot during a family gathering in Waggaman on Thursday night. The deputy’s brother was later apprehended following a car chase that concluded in Lafitte, according to law enforcement officials. Deputy Shaquille Guerin, 35, was declared dead at the scene on Marigold Lane, as reported by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The incident sparked a manhunt that spanned across the West Bank until deputies intercepted a vehicle associated with the suspect and made an arrest. The investigation is ongoing, with homicide detectives collecting evidence and conducting witness interviews.
The tragic incident has left two neighboring parishes in shock and has drawn expressions of sympathy from law enforcement leaders who remembered Guerin as a positive influence within his department. The call to the scene came just after 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, with reports of a shooting on Marigold Lane, a residential street off the Westbank Expressway. Upon arrival, first responders found Guerin in the street with at least one gunshot wound. Despite attempts at life-saving measures, Guerin succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Witnesses informed investigators that the shooter had fled the scene in a vehicle. Around 7 p.m., a deputy spotted the car near Ames and Lapalco boulevards. The driver refused to stop, leading to a pursuit that ended on Jean Lafitte Boulevard. The suspect, later identified as Guerin’s brother, Darius Guerin, 32, fled the vehicle but was eventually apprehended by deputies who also recovered a firearm.
Darius Guerin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The investigation is primarily focused on the events that transpired on Marigold Lane and the reasons behind the fatal dispute. Detectives are currently seeking doorbell video footage and statements from family members present during the incident.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre confirmed the victim’s identity and service record, describing him as a public servant who brought positivity to his coworkers. Records indicate that Shaquille Guerin had served for eight years and was assigned to the uniform patrol division after a stint in the detective bureau. He was off duty at the time of the incident, which occurred during a Thanksgiving gathering.
As of Friday evening, no bond had been set for Darius Guerin. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the case file and determine formal charges following a probable cause hearing. If the second-degree murder charges are upheld, the case will be assigned to a district court division in Gretna. Additional information, including arrest affidavit details, will be released after initial court filings.
Shaquille Guerin is survived by his wife, Roxanne, and their three children. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, which plans to coordinate honors with Jefferson Parish and other local agencies. The investigation remains active, with further updates expected after the suspect’s initial court appearance and the release of the autopsy findings.