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Suspect booked in Snapchat police chase, officer-involved shooting

7 years 4 months 4 weeks ago Friday, October 28 2016 Oct 28, 2016 October 28, 2016 4:00 PM October 28, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

BATON ROUGE - Wearing a hospital gown and a sling holding his arm, Devonte Stewart was escorted from an interrogation room at State Police headquarters to a waiting police car where he'll be transported to jail for charges related to an officer-involved shooting and police chase this week.

Stewart is accused of trying to ram Southern University Police officers Wednesday night when they tried to stop him for being at a dorm where he had been banned. Police said since Stewart used his car as a weapon, they had to open fire to protect themselves. Stewart was shot once but managed to drive off campus, get on the interstate and take I-10 West over the Mississippi River.

According to officials, Stewart was seated in the back of a red Jeep that had approached the North checkpoint at the University housing area Wednesday evening. The driver, a Southern University student, was allowed through after Southern University Police checked her University ID. As she drove through, an officer identified the back seat passenger as Stewart.

Stewart was banned from entering the University property following an on-campus drug arrest in August.

Southern Police were immediately dispatched and attempted to locate the red vehicle, officials said. After locating and loosing site of the vehicle, Southern Police observed the vehicle stop in the parking lot of University Apartment Building 200.

After the vehicle was parked, the driver exited and walked towards the apartments buildings. Stewart stayed in the vehicle and attempted to hid in the third row, according to officials. Police then surrounded the vehicle and ordered Stewart to exit the Jeep.

Officials said Stewart then moved up to the second row of seats and began shuffling through a backpack. After being given multiple warnings to exit the Jeep by police, officials said Stewart reached to the front of the vehicle, started the engine and jumped into the driver seat. It was then when Stewart reversed the vehicle in the direction of two officers. Officials said an officer fired a single shot in attempt to stop Stewart.

Police chased Stewart to just west of the La. 415 exit in West Baton Rouge, authorities said, where he was taken into custody Wednesday between 10:15 p.m. and midnight.

While police have not confirmed it was Stewart, friends identified him as the individual in a Snapchat obtained by WBRZ documenting the pursuit from inside the getaway car.

"I'll be gone for a very long time, I love y'all," Stewart tells the camera in the video. "I'm on... a police chase," he continued as he opened the window and showed flashing blue lights behind him.

As he was being taken to jail, Stewart said he documented his run from the law on social media because he feared for his life - alleging a concern about police brutality.

Stewart is being charged with having a gun on campus and aggravated assault on a police officer. Friday's booking comes after Stewart spent time in the hospital for the gunshot wound.

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Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz

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