On Saturday, January 7, 2017 a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agent was shot in the line of duty while on patrol in Morehouse Parish.
Senior Agent Tyler Wheeler was shot multiple times during a vehicle stop on US 165 in Morehouse Parish just north of the Ouachita Parish line.
Louisiana State Police Detectives began investigating the shooting and evidence was quickly discovered that lead to the arrest of 31-year-old Amethyst Baird of Monroe. Baird was charged and booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center on one count of Attempted 1st Degree Murder of a Police Officer for the shooting of Senior Agent Wheeler.
Also, during the course of this investigation, it was discovered that 34-year-old Jeremy Gullette of Monroe, LA assisted Baird in this crime. Gullette was charged and booked at the Ouachita Correctional Center on one count of Accessory After the Fact to Attempted 1st Degree Murder.
“We are very pleased that the suspected shooter and her accomplice are in custody at this time.” said LDWF Col. Joey Broussard. “Now we hope that Senior Agent Wheeler continues his recovery progress and that he and his family get the justice they deserve for this senseless shooting.”
Senior Agent Wheeler is listed in stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the LSU Health Shreveport Trauma Center.
Louisiana State Police is handling the investigation into the shooting with assistance from the LDWF Enforcement Division.
Wheeler has been an LDWF agent for two and a half years and is married with one child.