NEW IBERIA, La. — A New Iberia man is facing multiple charges after a shooting and subsequent standoff with law enforcement early Saturday morning, January 18, 2025. The New Iberia Police Department responded to the scene in the 700 block of South Hopkins Street shortly before 3 a.m. after reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers found a man critically injured in the yard of a residence near the intersection of South Hopkins Street and Ambassador W. LeMelle Drive. The victim was transported to a Lafayette hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Investigators followed the suspect’s trail to the 400 block of West Dale Street, where they discovered that the individual had entered a home without authorization. The homeowner was able to escape unharmed. Officers identified the suspect as 29-year-old Brad Thomas, who refused to exit the residence and barricaded himself inside.
In response, the New Iberia Police Department’s S.W.A.T. Team, along with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office’s S.W.A.T. Team, was activated to assist in the situation. After hours of negotiation and efforts to safely resolve the standoff, Thomas was taken into custody around 9 a.m.
Thomas was booked into the Iberia Parish Jail on a variety of charges, including:
- Attempted Second-Degree Murder
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Illegal Use of Weapons
- Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling
- Resisting an Officer
- Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property
The New Iberia Police Department expressed appreciation for the support of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, New Iberia Fire Department, and Acadian Ambulance during the incident. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.