Press Releases

Suspect charged with Att. First Degree Murder

Monday, June 23, 2008

While working a Lafayette Downtown detail, a Sheriff's Deputy witnessed a GMC Sierra truck hit another vehicle at the intersection of Lee and Vermillion Street. The GMC truck continued to accelerate after impact and was pushing the other vehicle through the intersection. The Sheriff's Deputy ran to the truck's driver side window and began giving the driver commands to stop; at which point the driver put the vehicle in reverse and backed up into the building of Don's Seafood Restaurant. The driver of the truck then proceeded forward in the direction of the Sheriff's deputy, who at this point felt his life was in danger, and fired several rounds from his handgun at the vehicle. The suspect continued to flee in the vehicle until it became inoperable several blocks away on Second Street near Garfield. The suspect, 30 year old Ian C. Morgan of Palm Beach Florida, was then taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with Attempted 1st Degree Murder, (2) counts of Hit and Run and Unauthorized use of a movable. No bond has been set at this time.

Further investigation reveled that friends of the owner of the GMC truck placed the man in the back seat of his truck to sleep and left the truck running with the air conditioner on. Morgan took the vehicle without knowing anyone was inside.

There were no injuries reported from anyone involved with the incident.



Lt Craig Stansbury
Public Information Officer
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
337-236-5876