August 19
August 19, 2008
Edna Breaux Uzee
August 21, 2008
A 15-year veteran of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office was killed early Wednesday while responding to an alarm at a Chackbay convenience store.
Martha Woods Shareef, 53, of Thibodaux, was run over by a car while investigating a burglary alarm at Nocko’s around 2:29 a.m., according to sheriff’s office spokesman Larry Weidel.
Authorities said Shareef confronted a suspect in the building. Dispatchers reportedly heard a loud scream over the officer’s mobile radio.
A store employee’s voice was heard next on the radio, telling dispatchers Shareef had been injured and needed medical help. Shareef was pronounced dead a short time later at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.
Weidel said the store employee provided a “very good” description of the getaway vehicle driven by the suspect. State Police and Thibodaux Police joined the sheriff’s office in the hunt for the car.
At 2:49 a.m., the car was sighted and pursued until it wrecked into a tree just south of Thibodaux on Louisiana Highway 1. Weidel said the driver swam across Bayou Lafourche and was seen climbing up on the opposite bank.
Traffic in the entire area was closed as authorities launched a massive manhunt for the suspect. He was found at 6:25 a.m. hiding under a house on the bayou side of Louisiana Highway 308. The name of the suspect has yet to be released.
In her 15 years on the force, Shareef had been assigned as a patrol officer, school resource officer and supervisor. “Martha was best known for her inspiring version of the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ which she sang at all graduations and formal functions of the sheriff’s office,” Weidel said.
A news conference is planned for 3 p.m. today.
