The suspect in a hostage situation that led to the death of a Lafayette SWAT officer had several felony warrants out for his arrest.
Nyjal A. Hurst, 31, was wanted on warrants in Jeanerette for two counts of second-degree aggravated battery and one count of home invasion, said Jeanerette City Marshal Fernest Martin. Hurst was also wanted for armed robbery, illegal use of a weapon, attempted carjacking, domestic abuse/battery and child endangerment by strangulation in St. Mary Parish.
"The local (Jeanerette) law enforcement have been seeking the apprehension of this guy for almost a year," Martin said.
Hurst took two unidentified people hostage after the city marshal's office attempted to serve the warrants around 10 a.m. Thursday in the 2500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard in Jeanerette.
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Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division were asked just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday to investigate the incident as an officer-involved shooting.
Cpl. Segus Jolivette was killed in the shooting with one other SWAT officer shot and two others struck by bullet fragments.
A candlelight vigil in remembrance of Jolivette is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Jeanerette City Hall, 1010 Main St.
Hurst is being held at the Iberia Parish Jail.
Hurst, in 2014, then 21 years old and living in Jeanerette, was wanted for attempted first-degree murder in a drive-by shooting in the 300 block of Belle Place Oliveria Road, according to a news release from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.
He also was arrested in Lafayette Parish in July 2023 and indicted on felony charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of cocaine; possession of a firearm, a 9mm handgun, with obliterated serial number; possession of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and the misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
Lafayette's SWAT team was among several regional law enforcement agencies who responded to calls for assistance Thursday after Jeanerette Marshal's Office officers attempted to serve a warrant at a residence. Both of the unidentified hostages were uninjured, according to police.
Hurst reportedly was wounded in the shootout but the wound is not life-threatening. Law enforcement officials have not released a list of charges he faces.
