Police shooting Victim Identified

Details from a deadly confrontation between Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and an Ouachita Parish man were recently released. As the Monroe Dispatch went to press last week, it received reports of a deadly shooting by deputies of a local man killed on November 7, 2023. At the time of the tragedy, few details were released because the incident was under investigation by the Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit (NLSIU). Since then, the Sheriff’s Investigative Unit has released new details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting. According to the latest information, OPSO deputies responded to a welfare check after receiving a call at a residence on Ray Drive in Monroe. The report said deputies were met by an armed man at the residence, identified as Lance Levie, allegedly armed with a large knife, firearm, and improvised flammable explosive in an attempt to injure them.

Threats were allegedly made against deputies during their interaction, according to the report. Deputies stated that de-escalation tactics were not successful as the situation worsened. Levie allegedly lit the flammable device in an attempt to injure deputies, leading to them shooting at Levie resulting in fatal injuries. According to the report, deputies provided immediate medical attention to Levie, but he succumbed to his injuries. The Monroe Police Department Bomb Squad cleared the residence and found additional explosive devices. As of press time, NLSIU is continuing its investigation, and the findings will be turned over to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.