NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Darren Bridges, a man accused of fatally shooting NOPD officer Marcus McNeil during a 2017 traffic stop, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Bridges appeared in court on Wednesday (Nov. 2) following a guilty verdict delivered in late September for first-degree murder, punishable in the state of Louisiana by either death or a mandatory life sentence at Angola Prison.

McNeil was one of four NOPD officers who tried to conduct a traffic stop on the car Bridges was driving. The NOPD reported that Bridges fled from officers, sparking a police chase and struggle between the suspect and McNeil. Police say Bridges then shot and killed McNeil.

The trial was prosecuted by District Attorney Jason Williams. The sentencing comes less than weeks after the five-year anniversary of McNeal’s death.

NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson released a statement on the sentencing:

“Today, a life sentence was handed down in the 2017 murder of NOPD Officer Marcus McNeil. With this decision, we feel that justice has been served and hope that Officer McNeil’s family and loved ones – including his NOPD family – can find a sense of peace in the wake of this tragedy.

We thank Judge Harris for her continued overseeing of the trial process. We thank District Attorney Jason Williams and his staff for their successful handling of this prosecution, and we thank all NOPD staff who put in countless hours of dedicated effort to investigate and provide a strong case and to offer continued services to Officer McNeil’s family.“

Previous Coverage: The Darren Bridges Trial

• Darren Bridges trial ends with guilty verdict in 2017 murder of NOPD officer
• Trial begins for man in the fatal shooting of an NOPD officer during 2017 traffic stop
• Opening statements begin in murder trial of NOPD officer Marcus McNeil
• Day 2: Trial of man accused of fatally shooting NOPD officer
• Murder trial of NOPD Officer Marcus McNeil continues with testimony from Sgt. David Barnes