Lafayette Shooter Kills Local Community Icon

On Sunday, September 30 a shootout in Lafayette, Louisiana took place leaving two wounded and an officer dead.
The crime happened in a Big Boy Discount Zone store on the corner of Moss Street and Van Buren Drive late Sunday night.
A 27-year-old man named Ian Howard was charged with first degree murder and three charges of attempted first degree murder. The two victims did not sustain life threatening injuries, but an eight-year veteran of the Lafayette Police Department, Corporal Michael Middlebrook, was killed by Howard.
Eye witness, Avery Cross, age 29, said that no one realized the shooter was still in the store when Middlebrook and another officer arrived at Big Boy.
“So when he walked in, the guy popped out and started shooting,” Cross continued.
Middlebrook was shot down upon opening the door, and Howard proceeded to fire into the air shouting for people to get back. “I heard the shooting and I just started running,” Cross said. “When it was happening, the only thought was to make it home.”
Initially, the police were responding to a call of battery with shots fired at the Big Boy. Howard fired at the police and the police returned fire. In addition to Middlebrook, two others were shot before the suspect tried to escape on foot.
Shortly after, Howard was arrested with no bond set for his release from the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center.
Howard’s father, Edwin Howard, said, “The family is in deepest shock.”
Howard did not have anything to say about the allegations against his son, but he also said, “The Howard family would like to extend the deepest sympathy to the family of Cpl. Michael Middlebrook and their friends and everyone on the force, and they’ll be in our prayers.”
Middlebrook was a well-known and respected member of the community. He was recognized last year for salvaging a local convenience store’s newly-expired food items and gave them to people in need. Middlebrook left a three-year-old daughter, two step-daughters, his wife, and his parents to honor his memory.
In addition to his family, the loss of their Corporal deeply affected the police and the rest of the community. “My heart is heavy this morning as we all woke up to terrible news both here in Louisiana and in Las Vegas, Nevada,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “Last night, a Lafayette police officer was fatally shot while on duty. Words are never enough to show gratitude to those who pay the ultimate price while carrying out their oath to protect and serve. We are forever grateful for this officer’s service to our community.”
The residents near the Big Boy spoke out and urged the community to stop violence amongst themselves.
One resident, Hattie Lee, shared her words with deep emotion, “This is unreasonable for an officer to lose his life. It’s time that we come together to love one another and stop this hating. Where is this hate coming from?”
Middlebrook’s funeral was held Friday, October 6. That same day, the students and faculty at Plantation Elementary honored him. They held flags and signs and watched as the procession was made to Middlebrook’s funeral service.