Shooting principals ID’d

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jul 29, 2008 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE — Authorities released the identities Monday of the people involved in an “officer-involved shooting” Saturday that left a Lafayette man dead.

Trooper David Anderson, spokesman for Louisiana State Police, said the shooting killed Shane Damond, 37.

Four-year veteran Officer Michael Milazzo was patrolling in the Mudd and Louisiana avenues area when he spotted a vehicle — reported stolen three days earlier — in the parking lot of a Circle K store in the 1100 block of Mudd Avenue, according to State Police.

State Police said when Milazzo approached the vehicle to take the man sitting inside into custody, Damond began backing up, dragging Milazzo.

Milazzo then fired his pistol and struck Damond, which brought the car to a halt.

Police said Damond was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The officer also was treated and released from a local hospital.

Anderson said Milazzo was placed on paid administrative leave while State Police conduct an investigation into the shooting, both standard policies for the Lafayette Police Department.

The investigations typically take about a month to complete, Anderson said.

Anderson said the delay in releasing the victim’s and officer’s names also is standard departmental policy for State Police.

He said it typically takes 24 to 48 hours for family members to be notified and to allow them to prepare themselves.

Anderson said he could not release any other details about the shooting and did not expect any more information to be forthcoming.

When the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the shooting was justified.