GRAPHIC: Officer arrested in fatal shooting at Louisiana apartment complex; bodycam released

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA/Gray News) - A Louisiana police officer has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide in connection to a fatal shooting at a Shreveport apartment complex.

WARNING: Video has been edited but imagery and descriptions may be disturbing.

An arrest affidavit alleges 23-year-old Officer Alexander Tyler shot and killed 43-year-old Alonzo Bagley on Feb. 3 at the Villa Norté Apartments. Louisiana State Police also released Thursday body camera footage from the officers who were there, which shows Bagley being shot and killed.

Tyler was arrested and booked Thursday morning on one count of negligent homicide after a warrant was issued for his arrest by the 1st Judicial District Court of Caddo Parish.

After a bond hearing, the judge set Tyler’s bond at $25,000. He bonded out around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. His arraignment is set for April 3.

Attorney J. Dhu Thompson, representative for Tyler, spoke to KSLA outside the Caddo Parish Courthouse just before 1 p.m. He said they were hoping no charge would be filed.

“These are split-second decisions that officers have to make. You know, if charges are brought, we’ll be prepared to defend them,” Thompson said. “You and I have the benefit of hindsight; we can sit down in a comfortable room with a cup of coffee and review this video. That’s not the position that Officer Tyler was in, or any other officer that puts his life on the line on a day-to-day basis and encounters these type of situations.”

Tyler has been placed on administrative leave, pending the investigation by Louisiana State Police.

The affidavit for the arrest warrant states a 911 call was made on Feb. 3 at 10:51 p.m. Two officers, including Tyler, responded to the scene and were told by the person that made the 911 call that Bagley was drunk.

According to the affidavit, when officers arrived at the apartment, Bagley answered, identified himself to officers and the officers were invited in.

Bagley told officers he needed to put his dog away and the second unidentified officer told him to sit down, according to the affidavit. Bagley then walked to the back of the apartment, went into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

The document says the second officer opened the bedroom door and went inside, followed by Tyler.

Officials say the second officer saw Bagley grab something off the nightstand and exit a back door onto the balcony area. Both officers drew their pistols as Bagley jumped over the balcony rail to the ground below.

Tyler told dispatch Bagley was running and started chasing him. According to the affidavit, Tyler’s firearm remained in his right hand as he gave dispatch a description of Bagley.

The affidavit says Tyler continued running after Bagley and had his firearm pointed straight ahead when he reached a brick entryway. When Bagley began to exit the entryway, the affidavit alleges Tyler fired one time and fatally struck him in the chest.

After Tyler fired his weapon, the document says Bagley’s hands were empty and above his hands and he said, “Oh Lord, oh God, you shot me.”

Both officers began rendering first aid. Shortly after, Tyler removed himself from the scene. Officials say he made multiple statements claiming the suspect came toward him and he couldn’t see his hands. No weapon was found on or near Bagley.

Members of Bagley’s family filed a lawsuit against Tyler for violations of Bagley’s Fourth Amendment rights.

Bagley’s family and attorney Ron Haley held a news conference at 2 p.m. Thursday. Haley said he watched the bodycam footage with the family, and they were thankful for Tyler’s arrest.

“Flight is not a death sentence. Flight does not mean shoot to kill. Flight does not mean judge, jury and executioner,” he said.

Haley thanked Louisiana State Police for its swift investigation, but said training and bias needs to be evaluated within the Shreveport Police Department. He also called for the immediate termination of Tyler.

Bagley’s brother, Xavier Sudds, said the family is still processing their thoughts and emotions after seeing the bodycam footage.

“There was no need for my brother to lose his life over a 911 call with no threat there,” he said. “I want Alonzo’s death to mean something at the end of the day.”

Bodycam footage from both officers was received and reviewed by Louisiana State Police. Eyewitness interviews were also conducted and the crime scene was processed for evidence by Louisiana State Police.

Louisiana State Police released body camera video of the shooting on Feb. 16.

The arrest affidavit states Tyler has been charged with negligent homicide since no known reports were made to the responding officers that Bagley was in possession of a dangerous weapon, no weapons were observed by the officers at the time of the incident and no arguable facts were provided to the affiant that would justify the need for deadly force.

Tyler was hired by the Shreveport Police Department in May 2021.

Copyright 2023 KSLA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.