Suspect In Louisiana Deputies' Murders Comes From Nebraska
Beatrice, NE - One of the seven suspects arrested in the shootings of four Louisiana sheriff's deputies is from Nebraska. Two deputies died in the shootings; two others were wounded.
28-year-old suspect Kyle David Joekel is from Beatrice and is wanted in Gage County for disappearing after a drug arrest in 2010. He has a history of running from the law:
*He got away after a high speed chase with Kansas police in 2011. He lost control of his car, crashed into another and sent it into a house.
*He no-showed to court after a May 2010 arrest for dealing marijuana. Court papers say he made a deal to buy four pounds of marijuana for $3100 from a confidential informant. When police tried to arrest him, he fled but was caught.
Court records say law enforcement had previously seized over $30,000 of "illegal drug proceeds" from him.
*In 2003, he ran from police again and was arrested for operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest.
Joekel and four others are facing charges of attempted murder in Louisiana. A fifth person was arrested for first degree murder and two others are accused of being accessories.
Motives behind the shootings and exactly how they unfolded have not been released.
Reported by Kathy Sarantos Niver, kathy@action3news.com
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