Iberia Parish, LA — A fatal encounter between law enforcement and a local man has left the Iberia Parish community in shock and demanding answers. On Wednesday night, Justin Rhine was shot and killed by officers from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Iberia Police Department during an attempted arrest under a protective order.
Louisiana State Police have confirmed that deputies were attempting to take Rhine into custody when he fled the scene and allegedly pulled out a gun. In response, officers opened fire, fatally wounding him.
The tragic incident has stirred strong emotions in the community, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding Rhine’s death. Raymond “Shoe-Do” Lewis, a close friend of Rhine and a school board member, spoke on behalf of the shaken community. He expressed frustration and confusion, saying, “The community is angry right now. We don’t know what went on or how it went on.”
Lewis recounted his last encounter with Rhine just minutes before the shooting. He had been dropping off a friend on Twenty Arpent Road when he saw Rhine. According to Lewis, the two shared a brief moment of camaraderie, joking about money. “I asked him, ‘What are you doing over here with all that money?’ and he joked back, ‘No, you’ve got all the money,’” Lewis recalled.
Soon after, Lewis received a phone call from his sister informing him of the shooting. “She called me and said someone was shot and killed,” Lewis said. “Thirty minutes later, he’s dead. I don’t understand—I had just talked with him.” The news left Lewis in a state of disbelief and anger. “I got in a rage… I got angry,” he added.
While initial details have been released by authorities, many in the community, including Lewis, are calling for more transparency. “A simple video showing what actually happened can bring a lot of peace—if it’s the way police are trying to describe it,” Lewis said.
Rhine, according to Lewis, had fallen on hard times but was trying to turn his life around. He described his friend as someone who had struggled with mental health issues, likely exacerbated by difficulty finding work due to his past. “He had been incarcerated before, and once that happens, it’s like having an X on your back. Nobody wants to hire you,” Lewis explained.
District 5 Councilman Ron Davis, who represents the area where the shooting occurred, also weighed in on the incident. He noted that while shootings are not uncommon in the area, it is rare for a police officer to be involved in such an event. “We have shootings like this here all the time—but nothing that involves a police officer,” Davis said. “It’s very unfortunate. A young man has lost his life.”
As the investigation continues, many in Iberia Parish are left grappling with the loss of a life and the unanswered questions surrounding the events that led to Rhine’s death. The community’s demand for transparency remains high, as residents seek clarity and accountability from law enforcement.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have yet to release further details. As the situation unfolds, the community waits for more information to understand what transpired on that fateful night.