A sense of unease settled over the Algiers Ferry as it made its way across the Mississippi River. A man, armed with both a shotgun and a pistol, had begun to threaten his fellow passengers, his intentions unclear but his menace palpable. The ferry captain, sensing the escalating danger, sounded a distress whistle, a signal for law enforcement to meet the vessel at the Algiers dock.
Among the officers who responded was Mounted Patrolman Joseph Lacoste, an eight-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department.
As the ferry docked, the armed man leaped from the boat and fled into the Algiers Ferry House. Without hesitation, the 39-year-old Patrolman Lacoste, along with other officers, gave chase. Inside the ferry house, the suspect opened fire. In the ensuing chaos, Patrolman Lacoste was fatally wounded, and a second officer was seriously injured. The suspect's violent spree was brought to an end when other responding officers shot and killed him at the scene.
Patrolman Joseph Lacoste's death on November 1, 1911, left a void in the community and in his family. He was survived by his wife and seven children, as well as his mother and five siblings. His end of watch came as a direct result of his commitment to protecting the citizens of New Orleans, a commitment he upheld until his final moments.
