A man has been identified by the New Orleans Coroner's Office after being shot and killed in an altercation with a local police officer outside a Walmart. As reported by WWL-TV, 42-year-old Gregory Williams died from a gunshot wound following an incident that began when he was allegedly overdosing in a vehicle and a New Orleans Police Department officer intervened.
The officer, later identified as Raychel Willey, responded to a call near St. Andrew and Rousseau streets, close to the Walmart parking lot, where Williams was found in distress last Friday morning. According to NOLA.com, Williams became "erratic" after Narcan was administered, leading to a confrontation where he dragged the officer by accelerating his vehicle while she was partially inside. Williams then struck a bystander and several parked vehicles.
The situation escalated further as Williams drove away from the scene, dragging Officer Willey along with him. In a statement obtained by FOX 8 Live, police said that the officer then discharged her weapon, hitting Williams in the chest. The vehicle continued until it struck multiple other vehicles and finally came to a stop.
Medical responders attended Williams at the scene, but the injuries proved fatal. The Orleans Parish Coroner listed his preliminary cause of death as a gunshot wound. Tragically, the chaotic series of events was witnessed by shoppers and bystanders, adding to the tension when Willey fired her gun and the car crashed down the street.
