In the pre-dawn hours of October 24, 2010, Shreveport Police Sergeant Timothy Clark Prunty, a 43-year-old male, was ambushed and fatally shot. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a convenience store located on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. Sergeant Prunty was standing beside his patrol car when another vehicle entered the lot, and the driver opened fire on him without warning.
Despite being struck by multiple bullets, Sergeant Prunty managed to return
fire before he collapsed. His actions in that critical moment were credited with protecting a civilian who was nearby. Emergency services transported him to LSU Health Science Center, but he succumbed to his injuries. A witness at the scene was able to provide a description of the assailant's vehicle, which proved crucial in the ensuing investigation.
Law enforcement officers located the suspect's vehicle a short time later. Following a brief pursuit, they apprehended the individual. Investigators linked the suspect to another shooting that had occurred earlier that morning involving a security guard. The man taken into custody was subsequently charged with first-degree murder for the death of Sergeant Prunty and attempted murder in connection with the earlier shooting.
On October 30, 2012, the 24-year-old suspect was convicted of the first-degree murder of Sergeant Timothy Clark Prunty. Two years following his conviction, he was sentenced to life in prison. Sergeant Prunty had been a dedicated member of the Shreveport Police Department for 19 years and was survived by his twin brother, who also served with the same department.
