WGNO

Deputy Shoots Man Allegedly Holding Knife Over His 70 Year Old Mother

HOUMA, La. (WGNO) – State police are investigating a deadly shooting involving at least one Tangipahoa Parish sheriff’s deputy.

According to troopers, two deputies were responding to a domestic disturbance call on Debra Drive in the Hammond area at about 12:30 Tuesday afternoon.

Inside the home, according to troopers, the deputies found a man holding a filet knife over his own mother.  That’s when at least one of the deputies opened fire, killing the man.

“The perpetrator was eventually shot by the Tangipahoa Parish deputy who responded at the scene who came upon somebody’s life in imminent danger obviously,” said Trooper Greg Marchand.  “I know that when you’re faced with deadly force, you have to act, and today that’s what they did.”

Troopers identified the dead man as 48-year-old Michael Nichols, Jr.  They say his mother, 70-year-old Barbara Nichols, was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.