Michael Ferguson

Deadly force

SWAT team members shot and killed Michael Ferguson after he allegedly shot at them. Police were called to the area after residents reported a shirtless man with a gun wandering around the neighborhood. Ferguson reportedly entered a dentist's office wearing only pants and carrying a gun, at about 1 p.m. and forced two female employees into a back room. "During this time, he fully disrobed. But the women were able to escape by slipping out through a side door," police spokesperson Remi Braden wrote in a news release. Ferguson came out nearly three hours later, reportedly wearing pants again and brandishing the gun. He got into his car where he remained for about 45 minutes, refusing to speak with SWAT team officers, police said. Eventually, officers fired a non-lethal, soft-impact round made of foam, about the size of a quarter, into the car's back window. They reportedly intended to follow up with tear gas, but Ferguson got out of the car and allegedly fired at police, who returned fire. Paramedics rushed Ferguson to Interim LSU Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds to his arms and back.