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The Terrebonne Parish Council commended the response to the August incident involving a 17-year-old shooting a 60-year-old grandmother near St. Francis Cathedral School in Houma. The shooting happened while the grandmother was waiting in line to pick up her grandchildren.

Suzanne Troxclair, Superintendent of Catholic Schools with The Diocese of Houma Thibodaux, said, “We are so blessed for the support we had in our community. The incredible and swift response of all of those parties that have made a very tragic and unfortunate situation one that was handled so swiftly and so professionally. We are profoundly grateful and blessed to have such a strong community as we do here in Terrebonne Parish to support our Catholic schools.”

Chief Dana Coleman with the Houma Police Department spoke on behalf of law enforcement partners, “On behalf of our law enforcement partners, I just want to commend for a job well done. One word we use a lot is communication; on the other side of communication was collaboration. Not only collaboration between the law enforcement entities, but we extended our hands to St. Francis. I want to commend them for a job well done because we had students at St. Francis school who really did not know they had a crisis around the corner from them. So I want to applaud them, and my hat goes off to them.” Chief Colman said Sergeant Johnson and his patrol shift responded. He said in a matter of fewer than five minutes, the situation was under control. Coleman said, “We had the school on lockdown…We take care of each other, and we take care of the citizens of Terrebonne Parish. Job well done across the board.”

Trooper Ross Brennan with the Louisiana State Troop C said the biggest thing was teamwork. “We all are separate agencies, but we have a great working relationship with each other. With that,” he said, “not only does it help us accomplish bringing justice to the family, but it helps us keep Terrebonne Parish and Houma safe.”

Councilwoman Jessica Domangue spoke from a parent’s perspective, “I’d like to personally thank each and every one of you. I have two children that go to St. Francis, and to say that this is not something that you never want to have happened again, it’s probably a parent’s worst nightmare to get to hear what’s going on at the school. Everyone was so professional, and it was unbelievable. The respect I have for every one of you guys…it was so calm, cool, and collective. You wouldn’t know that something was going on as calm as you all were. My two little ones didn’t even know something was happening because they did such a good job of isolating those kids and protecting them. So to say I feel safe for my children to go to school every day, absolutely, because each and every one of you guys.”

Jessica Domangue read the commendation, which can be read below:

“WHEREAS, on Friday, August 6, 2021, Terrebonne Parish local law enforcement agencies were called into action to respond to the report of a shooting near St. Francis de Sales School; and

WHEREAS, the faculty of St. Francis de Sales School also took responsive

action to protect the lives of elementary students; and

WHEREAS, understanding the scope of the event, assistance provided by these agencies was crucial in ensuring the safety of the residents of Terrebonne Parish and in securing the perimeter of the active area; and

WHEREAS, through excellent decision-making skills and training the victim

was transported to a medical facility for treatment and has been reported to be

in stable condition; and

WHEREAS, the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government wishes to

thank all responding entities for their dedication to the mission of serving and

protecting residents.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT resolved by the Terrebonne Parish Council, on the behalf of Parish President Gordon E. Dove and the entire Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, that the