A Deputy U.S. Marshal was fatally shot on Monday while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. when detectives from the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, along with members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, were in the Rutland Road area conducting an operation to apprehend a fugitive. An officer-involved shooting resulted in the death of the deputy, the sheriff's office said.
The suspect is currently in custody, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed.
The FBI's New Orleans Field Office has stated it is leading the investigation into the deputy's death, while the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation into the shooting incident itself. "Because this is a very active and ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time," an FBI spokesperson said.
Fugitive operations are inherently dangerous for law enforcement, according to Tom Chittum, former associate deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. "Fugitive operations are some of the most dangerous situations that law enforcement officers face because they are often pursuing people who know they are wanted, are on alert, and have already decided they are not going to be taken into custody without a fight," Chittum told ABC News. "It is truly dangerous work."