Alexandria police officer fatally shot man driving

ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — An Alexandria police officer shot and killed a man who was trying to run him over with a car, Police Chief Daren Coutee said. The dead man was identified as Guy N. Wilson, 31, of Alexandria. Wilson was shot Tuesday at about 8 p.m.
Patrolman Chris Blanchard responded to a call that someone was driving recklessly near Alexandria’s Levee Park Amphitheater area, Coutee said. Blanchard was walking a beat in the area.
According to police records, Blanchard spotted the car driven by Wilson, stood at a distance in front of the car and yelled orders for Wilson to stop the vehicle. When Wilson drove toward Blanchard, the officer fired an undisclosed number of shots in Wilson’s direction, Coutee said.
“Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased person,” Coutee said. “Whatever the person’s past or what that person might or not have been doing at the time, this is never a good thing … we never want to shoot someone. That is the last resort.”
Coutee said there was a passenger in the vehicle who was not harmed.
Blanchard, 26, was placed on administrative leave with pay, pending and investigation and autopsy results. The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office are also participating in the investigation, Coutee said.
Wilson had a record of 25 arrests dating back to 1991.