A woman and a Westwego police officer were killed Friday in Marrero after a traffic-related incident, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. Sheriff's Office officials said the shooting was reported around 6:30 a.m. at Barataria and Ames boulevards. Officer Michael Louviere was identified by Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand. He said the Westwego officer was married and has two children. The woman, Simone Veal, died from multiple gunshot wounds. She was 32 years old and lived in Marrero, the Sheriff's Office said. Normand said investigators are searching for Sylvester Holt, the suspect in the shooting. He was released from jail Jan. 7 after prosecutors declined to bring a rape charge against him. Investigators said Friday's gunfire was the result of a domestic situation in which Holt was involved and which led to a vehicle accident, according to the sheriff. Louviere was shot in the head while assisting after the accident, officials said. Additional details have not been released about what led to the shooting. The Sheriff's Office has not said whether Veal and Holt were in the vehicle. Antwan Harris, the public information officer for Jefferson Parish, released a statement after Friday's shooting: "Friday morning we were informed one our Westwego Police Department officers and a female victim were shot in a senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with that officer, the brave men and women of the Westwego Police Department and the woman's family. We stand behind the leadership of Chief Dwayne Munch Sr. and Mayor John Shaddinger and we offer any available resource at this time. We are confident parish law enforcement officers will find those responsible, and we will continue to monitor this unfortunate event." Additional updates are expected Friday from the Sheriff's Office. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

A woman and a Westwego police officer were killed Friday in Marrero after a traffic-related incident, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said.

Sheriff's Office officials said the shooting was reported around 6:30 a.m. at Barataria and Ames boulevards.


Officer Michael Louviere was identified by Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand. He said the Westwego officer was married and has two children.

The woman, Simone Veal, died from multiple gunshot wounds. She was 32 years old and lived in Marrero, the Sheriff's Office said.

Normand said investigators are searching for Sylvester Holt, the suspect in the shooting. He was released from jail Jan. 7 after prosecutors declined to bring a rape charge against him.

Investigators said Friday's gunfire was the result of a domestic situation in which Holt was involved and which led to a vehicle accident, according to the sheriff.

Louviere was shot in the head while assisting after the accident, officials said.

Additional details have not been released about what led to the shooting. The Sheriff's Office has not said whether Veal and Holt were in the vehicle.

Antwan Harris, the public information officer for Jefferson Parish, released a statement after Friday's shooting:

"Friday morning we were informed one our Westwego Police Department officers and a female victim were shot in a senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with that officer, the brave men and women of the Westwego Police Department and the woman's family. We stand behind the leadership of Chief Dwayne Munch Sr. and Mayor John Shaddinger and we offer any available resource at this time. We are confident parish law enforcement officers will find those responsible, and we will continue to monitor this unfortunate event."

Additional updates are expected Friday from the Sheriff's Office.

Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!