Shreveport Police Shoot Armed Man Holding Woman Hostage as Standoff Escalates; Investigation Ongoing

A man who was allegedly holding a woman hostage in Shreveport despite repeated pleas from neighbors was shot and killed by police officers. The incident, which occurred on West 77th Street in Shreveport, is now being investigated by detectives with the Louisiana State Police.

On May 12 at approximately 10:45 p.m., Louisiana State Police detectives were requested to investigate a shooting involving officers from the Shreveport Police Department.

While the suspect was killed, no officers were harmed during the incident. “This is an active investigation. Further information will be released when it becomes available,” Louisiana State Police said.

The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office identified the man who was shot and killed following the standoff with police as 53-year-old Lee Antoine Yarbore, KSLA reported.

Yarbore was pronounced dead at a hospital at approximately 11 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.

Officials said an autopsy has been ordered.

Residents living in the Cedar Grove neighborhood said the area was filled with police vehicles as officers responded to a hostage situation, according to KTAL News.

Before police arrived, several residents reportedly approached the suspect and urged him to let the woman go.

According to Shreveport Police Department Public Information Officer Corporal Chris Bordelon, the suspect was armed and physically restraining the woman before officers opened fire.

“He did have a female hostage. He actually physically had control of her body with the firearm in hand, so there were attempts made to try to negotiate with him, and he did seem to be in a state of mind, and officers ultimately were forced to take lethal action,” Bordelon said.

Police said the woman was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover. No officers were injured during the incident.

One neighbor later spoke about the impact domestic violence continues to have on families and communities.

“Domestic violence is not the answer. I tell a lot of people, if men could just walk away — if you provoked her or if she provoked you — just walk away at the end of the day,” the neighbor said.

Authorities said investigators are continuing to process the scene and gather additional information.

The shooting occurred near the site of a mass killing in the Cedar Grove neighborhood that claimed the lives of eight children on April 19. In that incident, eight children were killed and two women were seriously injured. Police said seven of the children were the children of the suspect, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, while the eighth child was their cousin.

Authorities said the suspect also shot the children’s mother and later attempted to carjack a man at gunpoint before trying to flee the area. The Shreveport Police Department previously described the case as a “tragic domestic violence incident” and said the investigation remains active.