On the late evening of Friday, November 1, 1985, 37-year-old Tangipahoa Parish deputy sheriff Richard Amacker Kent III responded to a reported break-in at Guy’s Grocery on Louisiana 38, east of Kentwood. After Kent and Kentwood officers arrested a suspect for trying to force open a drink machine, Kent placed the man in his patrol car and went inside the store to take a report. While Kent was inside, the suspect freed himself, gained control of the shotgun mounted on the patrol car’s cage and, as Kent exited, exchanged gunfire with the deputy. Kent was struck in the chest and, after the suspect—wounded in the arm—approached him, was shot a second time.

Kent was taken to a Hammond hospital and died shortly after midnight on November 2, 1985. The suspect fled but was captured soon after crashing his vehicle and was later convicted of manslaughter in connection with Deputy Kent’s death. Kent was survived by his pregnant wife, a son, his parents and two sisters.

Does anyone have memories of Deputy Kent or information about that night to share?