Lake Charles police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted in connection with the attempted murder of a police officer.

Deputy Chief Mark Kraus said Thursday that the suspect is a black male, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black hoodie with gray pants.

The officer, who has not been identified, was shot at early in the morning on Jan. 1 but was not injured.

Police received a call about the shooting of a gun near 3619 Texas St., Kraus said. When the officer got there, he said he heard multiple gunshots “in the area of a complex.”

The officer then saw a black male walking in the parking lot, but the man fled on foot when the officer tried to stop him.

“As the officer was exiting his vehicle, the suspect turned around and fired a shot in his direction. While taking cover, the officer witnessed the suspect fleeing on foot toward the center of the complex,” Kraus said.

The officer did not shoot back, he said.

“Anytime you fire at a police officer, obviously at that point in time, there is an imminent danger and the police officer has the right to neutralize the threat,” Police Chief Don Dixon said Tuesday.

Anyone with information on the suspect can call police at 491-1311 or Crime Stoppers at 439-2222.

The shooting was one of three incidents that day in which weapons were used during a crime.

Police are also investigating two separate armed robberies that occurred in the 2500 block of Sixth Street and the 2400 block of 11th Street.

(American Press Archives)

Meredith Blinder