Curtis William Denton Jr., 44, a lieutenant with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, was killed in the pre-dawn hours of January 25, 1989. Denton, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran who had served 23 years with the department, confronted three people he saw trying to steal a car from the parking lot of his apartment complex on the 4200 block of Hessmer Avenue at about 3:00 a.m. A struggle followed, the suspects overpowered him, seized his .357 revolver, and shot him with his own weapon.

Law enforcement launched an intensive investigation that identified the three suspects. During their apprehension one suspect was shot and killed by police, and two were taken into custody. The two surviving suspects were reportedly required to join the military as part of their sentencing. Denton was survived by two daughters, his father, a brother, and five sisters.

Does anyone have memories of Denton or information about the case that could add detail to what happened that night?