Robbery suspect charged in shooting

The suspect in a Loreauville bank robbery 22 months ago has been charged with the recent shooting of Officer Clay Landry of the Jeanerette Police Department, Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal said.

Jonathan Thibodeaux, 36, of 606 Hacker St. in New Iberia, is charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Thibodeaux is being held in the Iberia Parish Jail. He was arrested late Thursday for a January 2007 armed robbery of Chase Bank in Loreauville.

Evidence collected from a search of Thibodeaux’s home and car links Thibodeaux to the shooting of Landry, Ackal said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Landry, 23, was shot in the back at 12:50 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17 after he responded to a trash dumpster fire, set intentionally to lure him to the scene at Main and Provost streets in Jeanerette. Ackal said Landry was taken to Iberia Medical Center, treated for his wound and released on Friday.

Ackal said that Landry was shown a picture of Thibodeaux, but did not recognize him and had never heard of him.

Ackal said the shooting of Landry was “reprehensible.”

“When you do that you have seriously crossed the line,” Ackal said Friday.

Ackal said investigators are trying to establish a connection between Landry and Thibodeaux, as well as any possible connection between the 2007 Loreauville bank robbery and the shooting of Landry. He also said Thibodeaux had an “array of disguises” in his home but declined to comment further on any evidence related to the case.

“Thibodeaux was developed as a person of interest but did not cooperate with investigators when first contacted,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Wendell Raborn said.

Ackal cited two key factors that led investigators to charge Thibodeaux in connection with the shooting of the police officer, who has been on the force since August. The first is a phone call made to Jeanerette Police before Landry’s shooting, which was traced to Thibodeaux’s cell phone, a “track phone,” with the help of the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Ackal said that Thibodeaux made another call to the department a month before the shooting.

Ackal said there were other persons of interest in the case who could not be linked to the cell phone call and therefore have been ruled out, and when Thibodeaux was questioned a second time about the Landry shooting, he immediately “lawyered up” and the interrogation stopped at that point.

Ackal said Thibodeaux requested an attorney from the Indigent Defender’s Office but before that happens a review of his financial situation must take place. Ackal expected a decision on this to be made when Thibodeaux makes his first court appearance on Monday, when decision about bond will be made as well.

“He’s been quiet as a mouse,” Ackal said about Thibodeaux on Saturday.

The second factor was the ballistics report made by the Acadiana Crime Lab confirming that the .30-30 Winchester Rifle owned by Thibodeaux and seized from his car trunk was the rifle used to shoot Landry, the sheriff said. This came from comparing a bullet fired from Thibodeaux’s rifle to the shell casing found at the scene and to the bullet recovered from the shooting, which penetrated Landry’s armored vest, he said.

“The Acadiana Crime Lab did a fantastic job,” Raborn said, adding the ballistics report was completed quickly with the knowledge that Thibodeaux was a person of interest in the case.

He added law enforcement officers face rifle fire less often than smaller caliber gunfire.

Ackal said Thibodeaux is being looked at for a number of bank robberies across the Teche Area but declined to comment on specific ones.

“The FBI has jurisdiction on all bank robberies,” Ackal said.

Ackal praised the “superb” teamwork exhibited by the IPSO during the investigation.

“I’m so proud of those who work with me at the sheriff’s department,” Ackal said.

“They have worked tirelessly and have done a magnificent job, working as late as 2 a.m.”

Larry Jones began his official duties Monday as Jeanerette police chief. He said the shooting of Landry was a “despicable, ungodly act.”

“I’m looking forward to welcoming him (Landry) back, if he’ll come back, especially after the ordeal he went through,” Jones said.