Captain

Octavio Rafael Gonzalez

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s  Office, Louisiana
End of Watch: Friday, June 16, 2006

Age: 40

Tour: 13 years

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 6/16/2006

Weapon: Gun; Unknown type

Suspect: Sentenced to life

Captain Octavio Gonzalez was shot  and killed while participating in a manhunt for two suspects who had shot and  wounded another deputy minutes earlier.

The wounded deputy and his  partner were conducting a narcotics operation and had stopped a vehicle with  out-of-state plates. As the deputies approached the vehicle the driver opened  fire on them, striking one of the deputies in the leg.

Both suspects then  fled the scene as other units responded to the area. As Captain Gonzalez  searched for the suspects he was distracted by a female posing as a stranded  motorist. As he contacted dispatch he was ambushed by the male suspect and shot  in the back and side three times.

The male suspect then stole Captain  Gonzalez’s duty rifle and fled into a residential area where he took an elderly  man hostage in his home. The shooter eventually surrendered after a standoff at  the home.

On April 1, 2008, the suspect was convicted of first degree  murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole and an  additional 50 years for the attempted murder of the deputy.

Captain  Gonzalez had served with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Department  for 13 years, and served as the commander of the Narcotics Division.

He  is survived by his wife and two sons.