Editor’s note: The rank of L’Jean McKneely has been corrected. We apologize for the error.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Baton Rouge Police Department said one person died in a wreck with a police unit responding to a call along Government Street on Friday, Oct. 20.
At South Foster Drive, multiple vehicles were involved in a crash with a police department vehicle around 10:46 p.m. BRPD Lt. L’Jean McKneely said someone died due to their injuries after being ejected from the vehicle.
McKneely said the person killed was not involved in the call being responded to.
Police identified the victim as Caleb James Chappetta, 38. Police said Chappetta was driving a black Chevrolet Impala. BRPD said that detectives believe a marked police Ford Explorer that had activated its lights and sirens was heading westbound on Government Street when it entered an intersection and struck the black Chevrolet Impala heading southbound on South Foster Drive.
Per BRPD, eight other vehicles were in the wreck, including a Domino’s Pizza car. An engine was knocked free of the vehicle it was in, and smaller debris from the crash was in a nearby business.
“There was a total of eight crashes, all eight vehicles altogether, including the police vehicle,” KcKneely said.
Two BRPD officers were taken to hospitals for treatment from the wreck. McKneely said the officers being treated are in “very serious” condition.
According to McKneely, other units were trying to make contact with armed suspects who fired at the police around Government and South 16th Street.
Shell casings were later seen around 15th Street and Bynum Avenue.
“We had two officers who were responding to an officer-involved shooting that occurred at Government and South 16th Street,” McKneely said. “Shots were fired from officers who were being shot upon. At this particular time, from what we know, no one was injured during that shooting.”
McKneely said the were two or more suspects in the shooting and the department has brought out K9 officers.
He said both the wreck and the gunfire exchange are ongoing investigations.
“Pray for everybody that was involved, pray for the officers. and, again, it’s an ongoing investigation and as soon as we conclude our investigation, we will share our findings with the community,” he said.
According to a Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, officers exchanged fire with suspects near the intersection of Government and 16th streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and at several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20. 
A Baton Rouge Police Department vehicle and several others, including a Domino’s Pizza car, were involved in a wreck at Government and South Foster streets on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20.
