Rapides DA: No charges for 2 officers in separate shootings of men in Alexandria

Two recent shootings by law enforcement officers, one fatal, will not be presented to a Rapides Parish grand jury, according to District Attorney Phillip Terrell.

The shootings involved the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office and the Alexandria Police Department, and both happened in November 2022. Both shootings were investigated by Louisiana State Police, and the findings were turned over to Terrell's office.

Derrick Kittling, 45, was shot during a scuffle with a deputy on Nov. 6, 2022, after a traffic stop on Seventh Street near Broadway Avenue.

Video of the shooting showed Kittling asking Anderson why he was pulled over, but Anderson doesn't answer. At a Nov. 20 news conference, Louisiana State Police superintendent Col. Lamar Davis said Kittling apparently was stopped because of possible window tint and modified exhaust violations.

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Once Kittling and Anderson began fighting, Anderson dropped his Taser. Kittling picked it up, and Anderson eventually fired his gun and hit Kittling once in his head. Anderson called for medical assistance.

The incident lasted 58 seconds.

Kittling's family has retained attorneys, and there were several peaceful protests and press conferences after the Alexandria man's death.

“You took an innocent Black man away from his three children. He has three daughters. Three daughters and you took him for no reason,” said oldest daughter LaNeesha Alexander during one on Nov. 17, 2022.

"We all need answers. We deserve answers.”

Attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Ronald Haley, in a joint statement made after video of the shooting had been released later in November, called Kittling's death "unwarranted and completely preventable."

Derrick Kittling coverage: LSP says Alexandria man shot by deputy took taser. Community holds protest, wants answers.

An email to Crump seeking comment on Thursday's decision wasn't immediately returned.

The second shooting happened on Thanksgiving after a call about a man either running into traffic or lying on Rapides Avenue.

The Alexandria officer, identified as Christopher Hayward, was choked with his own baton during a fight with Jason Jamar Shackleford, 34. Hayward shot Shackleford in his left arm with one of five shots he fired during the confrontation.

In Kittling's death, a letter delivered Thursday afternoon to Sheriff Mark Wood said video "showed that Kittling's initial noncompliance escalated into a physical fight with Deputy (Rodney) Anderson."

It goes on to state Anderson's life and well-being were threatened.

"After a comprehensive review, the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that the actions of Deputy Anderson were justified," it reads. "Anderson was placed in reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm by the acts of Kittling."

Terrell wrote no criminal responsibility on Anderson's part could be found so there was no probable cause, and nothing to present to a grand jury.

"Deputy Anderson was in circumstances where use of deadly force was legally justified."

Terrell's letter regarding the Shackleford shooting says much the same, ruling that Hayward "was placed in reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm by the acts of Shackleford."

The officer acted in self-defense, it reads.

The incident between the two men lasted for more than four minutes.

Shackleford was arrested after his release from an Alexandria hospital, serving time on a parole violation. He is set to be arraigned on a charge of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer on April 12.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: DA: No charges for officers in Derrick Kittling, Thanksgiving shootings