A Louisiana woman was fatally shot in a police-involved incident after she allegedly yelled racists slurs at a group of construction workers and later attempted to run law enforcement over with her car. The incident took place on Sept. 1 when authorities answered calls about a disturbance involving an unidentified woman and a group of men. Sheriff Joseph Lopinto described as Jefferson Parish workers on the westbound side of Veterans Boulevard in the New Orleans suburb of Metarie, around 3:30 p.m.

The men were helping with the widespread power outages and debris cleanup after Hurricane Ida touch down in South Louisiana.

In a press release Lopinto said the disturbance began on Park Manor Drive, less than a mile away, when the woman allegedly approached the group, cursing and hurling slurs at the employees. She reportedly called them “f-cking n-ggers” demanding they be arrested, according to video footage captured by witness.

The sheriff says officers attempted to de-escalate the encounter, but when the woman reportedly took off driving, dragging a deputy outside of her car. A chase began, and the woman got caught in traffic near Veterans Boulevard. Once officers caught up and tried to surround her car, she hit the gas once again, striking the JPSO deputy. Not long after, another deputy opened fire as many as nine times into the car’s driver’s side, killing her. The number of shots was based on shells found at the incident scene.

Lopinto says after the woman was shot, her car reportedly traveled another 40 or 50 feet before coming to a stop. There were no other occupants in her car. The deputy who was hit by the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Meanwhile, the shooting officer left the scene unharmed. The identities of the deputies involved have not yet been released.

An investigation has since been launched.  “I have no clue what her motives were, but I do know tensions have been high, and we are seeing more disturbances. Whatever it was, it shouldn’t lead to this, where a deputy is getting hit twice. People need to learn a little patience around here.”

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