NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified the deputy shot while investigating a burglary early Wednesday morning.

The Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Kenneth Doby is in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Doby was investigating a report of a burglary around 3 a.m., according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Owner of Backroads Mercantile Pete Tulli confirms it was at his shop.

It’s right in the heart of St. Tammany Parish in the area of Highway 1083 and Highway 21, north of Abita Springs.

It’s a hotspot for locals.

“A lot of people on the area come here for breakfast and lunch,” said Chris Dantin, a resident of the area. He goes to Backroads Mercantile every day.

Investigators say around 3:00 a.m. Doby spotted someone walking near that area. When he got out of his patrol car, the person shot him.

The Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Doby was able to help get the suspect in custody before being taken to the hospital.

“It’s kind of shocking for something like that to happen in such a rural area,” said Dantin.

Tulli says this is the third time in the last month an attempted burglary has happened at his shop.

“I couldn’t believe it I just thought it was going to be like the other two,” said Tulli.

Sheriff Randy Smith says the suspect is a 13-year-old Waldheim area boy.

That’s something that shocked Tulli and Dantin.

“It’s unfortunate that we’ve got a 13 year old running around with a weapon on him,” said Dantin.

The teen was arrested and booked into the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center on attempted first-degree murder
resisting a police officer with force or violence, resisting an officer, battery of a police officer, injury medical attention, simple burglary, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile,
illegal possession of stolen goods.