In the spring of 1978, the community of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, was struck by a tragedy that would claim the life of one of its own. Thomas William Procter, a 35-year-old male deputy sheriff, succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound on May 20, 1978, following a violent encounter that had occurred two weeks earlier.
The series of events leading to Deputy Procter's untimely death began on May 6, 1978, when he responded to a seemingly routine shoplifting call at a local grocery store.
Upon his arrival, he found the store's security officers had already apprehended the female suspect. As the deputy was in the process of gathering the necessary information for his report, the situation escalated dramatically with the appearance of the shoplifter's boyfriend.
An altercation ensued, during which the boyfriend launched an attack on Deputy Procter. In the struggle, the man managed to overpower the deputy and seize control of his service weapon. He then fired the weapon, striking Deputy Procter. The wound would prove to be mortal, and after fighting for his life for fourteen days, Deputy Procter passed away. He had served with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office for two years and was a father to two daughters and a son.
The man responsible for the shooting was later apprehended. However, in a turn of events that offered little solace to a grieving community and family, he was subsequently released and placed on probation for his actions. The loss of Deputy Thomas William Procter left a lasting mark on Lafourche Parish, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
