A chase that involved several of Shreveport's busy highways ended with an officer-involved shooting near the intersection of Portland and Kings just before noon today.
The chase, which lasted about 30 minutes and involved speeds of up to 80 miles an hour, ended when 40-year-old Fred Howard Jr. of Frierson tried to run down the officer with his vehicle, forcing the officer to fire two shots at him.
The incident began around 11:20 a.m. when police attempted to stop Howard at Greenwood and Broadway for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Howard, driving a 1989 navy blue and tan Dodge van that was reported stolen, sped away.
Officers chased the van, which entered Interstate 20, crossed the median and went against traffic. The vehicle then drove onto Highway 3132, still driving against traffic.
Near the Walker Road exit, the vehicle turned around and drove on Interstate 220, crossing the Cross Lake bridge. He then turned onto Shreveport-Blanchard Highway, turned on Hearne and proceeded to Murphy Street. He ended up near Willis-Knighton Medical Center on Greenwood Road.
During the chase, the van's front right tire was shot by a pursuingofficer, causing the tire to blow out. In all, three officers shot at the van in three different locations in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
The final shooting occurred near Kings Highway and Portland, when the van came to a near stop. As Sgt. D.J. Gaut approached the vehicle, Howard accelerated the van toward the officer, prompting the officer to fire two shots at the suspect.
One bullet grazed the left side of the suspect's head, touching his eye and his ear. The second bullet went through the man's left forearm. He was taken to LSU Health Sciences Center with non life-threatening injuries.
Two other officers who shot at Howard are identified as Officer Michael J. Harvey and Sgt. William E. Scott. All three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident. Gaut, 44, has been with the department for 19 years; Harvey, 41, has been with the department for five years; and Scott, 40, has been with the department for 16 years.
In all, seven officers were involved in the chase and one patrol vehicle was slightly damaged when Howard rammed into the car's bumper on I-220. No officers were injured in the incident.
When released from the hospital, Howard will be charged with aggravated flight from an officer, unauthorized use of a moveable and possibly several felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder.
Howard was already wanted for a November 1999 charge of unauthorized use of a moveable, namely a motor vehicle.
