St. John deputy is buried on what would have been his 28th birthday
Published: Monday, August 20, 2012, 9:00 PM
On what normally would have been a day to mark another year in the life of Jeremy Triche, friends, family and law enforcement officers from across the state gathered instead to mourn his death. Triche, a St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputy, was laid to rest Monday, on what would have been his 28th birthday. Triche and fellow deputy Brandon Nielsen were shot to death while investigating the earlier shooting of Deputy Michael Scott Boyington early Thursday morning. Deputy Jason Triche was also wounded in the attack.
Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Attorney Jim Letten were among the dignitaries in the overflow crowd attending the funeral Mass at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in LaPlace, where Archbishop Gregory Aymond and the Rev. John Tran, pastor of St. Joan of Arc, officiated at the service. St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre and St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom delivered scriptural readings.
Drawing from the losses of his own family members, Tran, in his homily recognized the difficulty in making sense of such a horrific tragedy. "There are moments in life which make us not only ask, but cry out 'Why?'" Tran said. "The tragic death of Jeremy is one such moment. Besides the grief that we feel at his passing, we also have the anguished question: Why did it have to happen in this way."
But Tran urged mourners to keep hope, keep their faith, to forgive and to live life to the fullest. "As you experience this sad moment in time, may you find in the Lord God comfort in your sadness, certainty in your doubt and courage to live through this dark hour."
While the funeral services were closed to all but family, friends and law enforcement members, many members of the community turned out to show their support by lining the route traveled by the funeral procession, many waving American flags.
Along West Fifth Street in LaPlace, several employees and even patients of the Twin Oaks Nursing Home came outside Monday morning to watch the procession of uniformed officers file pass en route to the church. "We just want to show our support and offer our deepest sympathies to the Triche family," said Monica Ingram, a nursing home employee. "Our hearts are so sad. Even though we're not blood, we're all related by community."
Kat Powell, another employee, said she knew Triche's grandparents, as well as St. John sheriff's deputies Capt. Octavio "Ox" Gonzalez and Deputy Barton Granier, both of whom died in the line of duty. "I've been sad since Thursday," she said. "It's just a terrible tragedy."
Michelle Remondet and Susan Daigle stood together at the intersection of Elm Street and Airline Highway to pay their respects. "I live here. I know many police officers, one of which is in University Hospital," said Remondet, a LaPlace resident. "They protect us day in and day out. I just wanted to show my support."
Harry Krueger, a retired Entergy employee, said he also knows many deputies. "They've got a very tough job," he said as he watched the procession.
Investigation continues
One of the suspects in the shootings, Kyle Joekel, 28, remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds on Monday. Trooper Nick Manale, a State Police spokesman, said it is unclear when he would be well enough to be released and booked with principal to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
Another suspect who had been hospitalized was released from the hospital, State Police said late Monday. Brian Smith, 24, was booked with attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
Already in jail are 44-year-old Terry Smith, 22-year-old Derrick Smith and 21-year-old Teniecha Bright, who have been booked with principal to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. Chanel Skains, 37, and Britney Keith, 23, have been charged with accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
The suspects are accused of shooting Boyington as he worked a traffic detail in a remote parking lot in LaPlace used by St. Charles Valero Refinery contract workers. The other deputies were attacked when they went to Riverview Trailer Park, where the suspects lived, to investigate the incident.
In what Tregre has described as an "ambush" and an "assassination," authorities say Triche and Nielsen were talking with two suspects when an undetected third suspect opened fire on them with an assault weapon striking them multiple times.
Manale said detectives on Monday were still collecting and reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses. He said multiple weapons and ballistics are being tested by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"This is a very tedious, lengthy process but technicians are working very quickly to provide results," he said.
So far, the seven suspects have only been booked in the initial shooting of Boyington. However, as the investigation moves forward, Manale said more charges are expected.
He said the investigation could also widen at a later time if reports that the suspects were involved in anti-government groups are confirmed.
Services for Nielsen
Visitation for Nielsen will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until an 11 a.m. funeral service at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries in New Orleans. The funeral procession will leave New Wine Christian Fellowship in LaPlace on Wednesday at 7 a.m. and travel south on Airline Highway before turning left onto Belle Terre Boulevard and continuing onto Interstate 10 to Lake Lawn.
Nielsen, who leaves a wife and five children, had served the St. John Sheriff's Office for nearly two years and was assigned to the traffic division. Triche, who leaves behind a wife and 2-year-old son, had been with the St. John Sheriff's Office for four years and was assigned to the Canine Division, where he worked with his canine partner Jango.
Michael Rollo, owner of Rollo Security, described both deputies as heroes on Monday as he placed dozens of American flags in the ground on the corner of Hemlock Street in LaPlace. He also had his security personnel lined up on the corner.
"We're all part of the law enforcement community. These are the heroes -- not the movie stars, not the athletes with their million-dollar contracts," Rollo said. "These are the true heroes."
In a July 2 Facebook post, read aloud at a candlelight vigil for the slain deputies on Friday, Jeremy Triche seemed to almost foretell his fate -- and perhaps offer peace to his family -- in using the word hero in quoting a poem known by many for its place in the closing scenes of the movie "Act of Valor."
"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people," Triche wrote.
"When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."
EnlargeSUSAN POAG/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE Law enforcement officers escort the casket into a mass for St. John the Baptist Sheriff's deputy Jeremy Triche at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in LaPlace, Louisiana Monday, August 20. Triche was one of two St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputies killed during a shootout August 16,2012 in LaPlace.Funeral for St. John sheriff's deputy Jeremy Triche gallery (17 photos)
Drawing from the losses of his own family members, Tran, in his homily recognized the difficulty in making sense of such a horrific tragedy. "There are moments in life which make us not only ask, but cry out 'Why?'" Tran said. "The tragic death of Jeremy is one such moment. Besides the grief that we feel at his passing, we also have the anguished question: Why did it have to happen in this way."
But Tran urged mourners to keep hope, keep their faith, to forgive and to live life to the fullest. "As you experience this sad moment in time, may you find in the Lord God comfort in your sadness, certainty in your doubt and courage to live through this dark hour."
While the funeral services were closed to all but family, friends and law enforcement members, many members of the community turned out to show their support by lining the route traveled by the funeral procession, many waving American flags.
Along West Fifth Street in LaPlace, several employees and even patients of the Twin Oaks Nursing Home came outside Monday morning to watch the procession of uniformed officers file pass en route to the church. "We just want to show our support and offer our deepest sympathies to the Triche family," said Monica Ingram, a nursing home employee. "Our hearts are so sad. Even though we're not blood, we're all related by community."
Kat Powell, another employee, said she knew Triche's grandparents, as well as St. John sheriff's deputies Capt. Octavio "Ox" Gonzalez and Deputy Barton Granier, both of whom died in the line of duty. "I've been sad since Thursday," she said. "It's just a terrible tragedy."
Michelle Remondet and Susan Daigle stood together at the intersection of Elm Street and Airline Highway to pay their respects. "I live here. I know many police officers, one of which is in University Hospital," said Remondet, a LaPlace resident. "They protect us day in and day out. I just wanted to show my support."
Harry Krueger, a retired Entergy employee, said he also knows many deputies. "They've got a very tough job," he said as he watched the procession.
Investigation continues
One of the suspects in the shootings, Kyle Joekel, 28, remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds on Monday. Trooper Nick Manale, a State Police spokesman, said it is unclear when he would be well enough to be released and booked with principal to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
Another suspect who had been hospitalized was released from the hospital, State Police said late Monday. Brian Smith, 24, was booked with attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
Already in jail are 44-year-old Terry Smith, 22-year-old Derrick Smith and 21-year-old Teniecha Bright, who have been booked with principal to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. Chanel Skains, 37, and Britney Keith, 23, have been charged with accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
The suspects are accused of shooting Boyington as he worked a traffic detail in a remote parking lot in LaPlace used by St. Charles Valero Refinery contract workers. The other deputies were attacked when they went to Riverview Trailer Park, where the suspects lived, to investigate the incident.
In what Tregre has described as an "ambush" and an "assassination," authorities say Triche and Nielsen were talking with two suspects when an undetected third suspect opened fire on them with an assault weapon striking them multiple times.
Manale said detectives on Monday were still collecting and reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses. He said multiple weapons and ballistics are being tested by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"This is a very tedious, lengthy process but technicians are working very quickly to provide results," he said.
So far, the seven suspects have only been booked in the initial shooting of Boyington. However, as the investigation moves forward, Manale said more charges are expected.
He said the investigation could also widen at a later time if reports that the suspects were involved in anti-government groups are confirmed.
Services for Nielsen
Visitation for Nielsen will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until an 11 a.m. funeral service at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries in New Orleans. The funeral procession will leave New Wine Christian Fellowship in LaPlace on Wednesday at 7 a.m. and travel south on Airline Highway before turning left onto Belle Terre Boulevard and continuing onto Interstate 10 to Lake Lawn.
Nielsen, who leaves a wife and five children, had served the St. John Sheriff's Office for nearly two years and was assigned to the traffic division. Triche, who leaves behind a wife and 2-year-old son, had been with the St. John Sheriff's Office for four years and was assigned to the Canine Division, where he worked with his canine partner Jango.
Michael Rollo, owner of Rollo Security, described both deputies as heroes on Monday as he placed dozens of American flags in the ground on the corner of Hemlock Street in LaPlace. He also had his security personnel lined up on the corner.
"We're all part of the law enforcement community. These are the heroes -- not the movie stars, not the athletes with their million-dollar contracts," Rollo said. "These are the true heroes."
In a July 2 Facebook post, read aloud at a candlelight vigil for the slain deputies on Friday, Jeremy Triche seemed to almost foretell his fate -- and perhaps offer peace to his family -- in using the word hero in quoting a poem known by many for its place in the closing scenes of the movie "Act of Valor."
"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people," Triche wrote.
"When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."
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