DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (BRPROUD) – A Denham Springs police officer is still in critical condition after he was reportedly shot by a suspect on Thursday, May 11, in Denham Springs.
The Denham Springs Police Department said Cpl. Shawn Kelly’s condition is the same as of 12:05 p.m. Friday.
Ways to support Kelly’s family can be found here.
In the latest Facebook post, the department said they “appreciate all the calls and text messages concerning Cpl. Kelly.”
DSPD posted that they will provide updates at approximately 12 p.m. each day.
Kelly was injured Thursday, May 11 when Denham Springs Police Department officers responded to a disturbance call near a shopping center along South Range Avenue around 6 p.m. The suspect, Justin Roberts, 30, exchanged fire with officers and fled the scene, according to authorities.
Kelly was shot and taken to the hospital.
Roberts was caught a short time later by the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and was taken to a hospital where he later died from gunshot injuries sustained when deputies tried to take him into custody.
Law enforcement is asking the community for prayers.
In a Facebook post made around 6:35 p.m. Friday, police said members of the department had spoken with Kelly’s family.
“They all expressed a tremendous amount of gratitude towards the community and the outcry of support they have received. The family asks that everyone continue to pray for Cpl Kelly. As of 5 p.m., there were over 185 liters of blood donated at the Our Lady of the Lake hospital. The donations will begin again tomorrow morning at OLOL BR with other sites becoming available in the coming days,” the post said.
What we know about Kelly
Kelly earned his post certification in 1997 at the State Police training academy and was hired by the Louisiana Department of Corrections in 1994 before moving to other state agencies, Denham Springs PD said. The department said he joined the Denham Springs police force in 2019 where he works as a taser instructor, field training and motor officer.
“Cpl. Shawn Kelly is a lifetime public servant and is the type of officer who wants to respond to every call and help every person he can reach, which is why he was even where he was yesterday afternoon,” DSPD Sgt. Scott Sterling said. “Cpl. Kelly is actually assigned to the traffic unit but never hesitated to help the uniform patrol officers as well. We ask that everyone continue their prayers for Cpl. Kelly as he fights for his life. Thank you to everyone who has shown up to donate blood as well. The turnout has been tremendous.”
Other coverage
This is a developing story.
