Kenner Police Department Press Release Re: Matthew Lathers Shooting
𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆
UPDATED: Kenner – Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Kenner Police Department are investigating a fatal deputy-involved shooting in the 700 block of Farm Avenue. During the incident, three Kenner Police Department officers were shot, and eventually the suspect was fatally shot by a JPSO deputy. All three Kenner officers were treated and released from a local hospital.
On April 28, 2024, at approximately 9:45 am, Kenner Police were called to the 700 block of Farm Avenue after two people were shot outside of a residence.
Victims of the shooting identified the residence in which the gunfire originated. Detectives recognized the address to belong to a family member of Matthew Lathers, 31, Kenner, who was wanted for an attempted murder and armed robbery that occurred earlier in the week in Kenner. There was an outstanding warrant for Lathers for that incident.
A search warrant was obtained, and the Kenner Police SWAT team arrived on scene to execute the warrant. The team approached the residence and immediately began receiving fire. At least one SWAT member returned fire. Three officers were shot, and it is unknown at this time if Lathers was struck during that initial contact.
Following the shootings of the Kenner officers, Kenner Police requested JPSO to assist. JPSO deputies went to the location and assumed responsibility for the scene. Within minutes, Lathers began shooting at a JPSO armored vehicle in which deputies were stationed. Multiple attempts were made to contact Lathers to open negotiations, but all efforts were unsuccessful.
After firing at the armored vehicle, Lathers returned to a position where he could again fire on the vehicle. A JPSO sniper was able to fire at Lathers, who was fatally wounded. Lathers was pronounced dead on the scene.
A local area hospital treated both victims from the earlier shooting, and they have been released.
𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙖𝙬 𝙚𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨.
Anyone having any information are asked to contact the Kenner Police at (504) 712-2222 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.