HPD officer treated, released after Nov. 4 shooting

Houma Police Officer Kelly Champagne was shot twice in the line of duty early Nov. 4 after a firefight with a fleeing suspect.

Champange and his partner, Officer Keith Besson, were patrolling the area of Daniel Turner Trailer Court near East Street in Houma, when a man in a red Kia suddenly sped off. The officers then engaged in a high-speed chase of the suspect, Wendell Matthews, 25, of Chauvin. The officers pursued Matthews for nearly 7 miles until he exited the vehicle, which then rolled into a ditch on the 4800 block of Bayouside Drive.

Matthews continued to flee on foot into a wooded area before being chased down by Champagne and Besson. When Matthews resisted arrest, Champagne used his Taser to subdue the suspect. After being tased, Matthews drew a gun and fired several shots. Champagne was hit twice, once in the chest, and again grazing his left arm. Matthews was then shot three times by Champagne, twice in the leg and once in the shoulder. After being shot, Matthews continued to flee until Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputies, who were called in as backup, finally captured him under a trailer on Anacin Street.

According to Houma Interim Police Chief Todd Duplantis, Champagne was spared the worst because he was wearing a bulletproof vest. “We’re real thankful because that bullet proof vest saved his life,” said Duplantis.

Champagne only suffered a large bruise to the center of his chest where the bullet would have hit him and a laceration to his left arm, according to Duplantis.

Duplantis was not sure how many rounds either Champagne or Matthews fired, as the matter is pending a full investigation. Matthews was transported to Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center by ambulance. He was later transferred to Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, and is still listed in stable condition as of press time.

Champagne was transported to Terrebonne General Hospital, where he was treated and released the same day. According to Duplantis, Champagne has been placed on administrative leave with pay and is undergoing stress counseling.

Lousiana State Police spokesman Trooper Bryan Zeringue said an investigation into the matter is still pending. It is unclear why Matthews initially fled from police and whether or not there were any drugs in his system at the time of the incident.