In the late hours of a January night in 2007, the life of a veteran law enforcement officer, Alan Inzer, a 43-year-old male, was tragically cut short in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. On the evening of January 24th, the off-duty Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Deputy was with a friend in Lake Charles when he witnessed what he believed to be a burglary in progress at a local business.
His instincts as a 17-year veteran of the force took over as he immediately gave chase.
Inzer, in his personal vehicle, pursued the individuals for a short distance before continuing the chase on foot. It was during this foot pursuit that the situation turned fatal. Gunshots rang out, and Deputy Inzer was struck multiple times. He was found shot to death, his own weapon still holstered in his boot. The suspects fled the scene, leaving behind a community to mourn the loss of a dedicated officer.
The investigation into Deputy Inzer's death moved swiftly. The following day, four suspects were taken into custody. The man identified as the killer was apprehended in Louisville, Kentucky, by the United States Marshals Service and was extradited back to Louisiana to face charges. This individual, Daniel L. Pegues, then 31, was charged in connection with the murder.
In January 2009, Daniel L. Pegues was convicted of manslaughter and burglary for his role in the death of Deputy Inzer. He subsequently received a 46-year prison sentence for these crimes. Another individual, Robert W. Pegues, the uncle of Daniel, was also implicated in the events following the shooting. Robert Pegues pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter for assisting his nephew in his attempt to flee the state. For his part in aiding the man responsible for Deputy Inzer's death, he was sentenced to five years in prison.
