In the summer of 1988, the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, lost a decorated hero. Warren Joseph Broussard, a 40-year-old male Sergeant with the Baton Rouge Police Department, was a man who had served his country with distinction in the Vietnam War, earning a Navy Cross, three Bronze Stars, and the Navy/Marine Corps Medal. His 15 years on the police force were a testament to his continued dedication to service and community.
On a fateful day, Sergeant Broussard was at his grandparents' home, which had been burglarized just the day before. A neighbor approached him with information about two suspicious men casing a nearby house. Acting on this tip, Broussard located the two individuals. Unbeknownst to the seasoned officer, these were the very same men who had committed the burglary at his grandparents' residence. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun that had been stolen during that break-in.
As Sergeant Broussard began to question the two men and radioed for backup, the situation took a tragic and violent turn. One of the suspects suddenly drew the stolen handgun and opened fire on the unsuspecting officer. Broussard was struck in the stomach and the head, his life taken in a brutal act of violence. The two assailants fled the scene, leaving a community to mourn a fallen officer, a husband, and a father of two.
The investigation into Sergeant Broussard's murder moved swiftly. Within a week, both suspects were apprehended by law enforcement and subsequently charged with murder. As the case moved towards trial, one of the accused men made a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify against his accomplice in exchange for a lesser sentence. This testimony proved crucial in securing a conviction against the man who pulled the trigger. The shooter was found guilty of the murder of Sergeant Warren Joseph Broussard and was sentenced to life in prison.
