A man armed with a knife entered the Bayou La Batre City Hall with the intention of killing law enforcement officers. He was able to stab the City Magistrate, who happens to also be the Mayor’s wife, before being apprehended by law enforcement.
An unnamed suspect stabbed Marcia Barnes, the wife of Mayor Henry Barnes. He was trying to get past her so he could kill police officers in the Gulf Coast seafood processing town of 2500. Police were aware of the man’s identity, having had reports about him in the past. According to AJC:
The woman was taken to a hospital and required stitches to her leg, and the mayor said his wife was the only person injured, WPMI-TV reported. A man was in custody, but authorities didn’t immediately release his name.
“His intent was to kill law enforcement. … Attacking the magistrate was one way to get to us,” Dagg said. “He was familiar to us. Over the years, we’ve known him.”
The city posted on their Facebook page that City Hall was temporarily closed following the incident.
BAYOU LA BATRE CITY HALL has been closed effective immediately. Reopening details will be posted when available. THE BAYOU LA BATRE COURT OFFICE has been closed effective immediately and will remain closed until further notice. BAYOU LA BATRE MUNICIPAL COURT that was scheduled for today has been postponed. Rescheduling information will be issued at a later time. Updates to openings and reschedule dates will be announced once that information is released.
At a time when law enforcement is under attack from multiple angles, it’s important that everyone stays alert. There are crazy people lurking with ill intentions.