Anthony “Tony” Sonnier

Deadly force

Anthony J. Sonnier was shot and killed when he allegedly backed into an officer during a traffic stop. The officer had reportedly stopped a other belonging to a stabbing victim who said a friend had attacked him without apparent reason. As the officer approached the other, Sonnier allegedly backed up and struck the officer, who responded by firing multiple shots into the other, hitting Sonnier. After the shooting, Sonnier's other struck a light pole. Sonnier's family say Sonnier's son had died in a car crash several weeks earlier, and ever since then Sonnier hadn't been the same.