Slain La. Police Officer Identified

Authorities have released the names of the Chitimacha tribal police officer who was killed and the two sheriff's deputies who were wounded Saturday in shootings near a south Louisiana casino.

The slain officer, Sgt. Rick Riggenbach, was a four-year veteran of the tribal police department who also served 10 years as a St. Mary Parish sheriff's deputy. At a press briefing Monday, a Louisiana State Police spokesman called Riggenbach a hero whose actions prevented other people from being hurt.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said his two wounded deputies, 23-year-old Jason Javier and 24-year-old Matthew Strickland, "seem to be recovering well."

Wilbert Thibodeaux, of Charenton, was arrested on murder charges for allegedly gunning down an elderly man and setting fire to a mobile home before shooting the officers.