By Associated Press - Tuesday, March 4, 2014

NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) - State police are investigating the death of a 22-year-old New Iberia man who apparently shot and killed himself while handcuffed in an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office vehicle Sunday night.

Trooper Stephen Hammons tells The Advocate (https://bit.ly/1gOC7lx ) Victor White III was reportedly fighting with others when deputies responded to a call in New Iberia.

Deputies who searched White said they found illegal drugs, cuffed his hands behind his back, then placed him in a squad car for transport to the Sheriff’s Office for processing, Hammons said.

“Once at the sheriff’s office, White became uncooperative and refused to exit the deputy’s patrol vehicle,” Hammons said.

As the deputy requested assistance, White produced a handgun and fired one round, striking himself in the back, Hammons said.

White was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sheriff Louis Ackal asked state police to investigate the incident. State police-led investigations in deaths involving officers are normal.

“We’re investigating how he got the gun,” Hammons said late Monday. “It’s too early in our investigation to comment further.”

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Information from: The Advocate, https://theadvocate.com

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