BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced that JAMIE D. CROOM, age 31, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with the murder of Deputy United States Marshal Josie Wells while Deputy Wells was engaged in the performance of his official duties, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1111 and 1114.
Drew J. Wade, Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Marshals Service, released the following statement concerning the incident giving rise to the federal complaint: “At approximately 11:00 a.m. today, Deputy Marshal Wells died in the line of duty. Deputy Marshal Wells was part of a team executing a warrant on a fugitive wanted for double homicide. The team engaged gunfire and Wells was shot. He was immediately transported to an area hospital, where he died. The fugitive was also shot and transported to a hospital. The shooting investigation is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baton Rouge Police Department. No other law enforcement personnel were injured during this incident."
This matter is being investigated by the FBI and the Baton Rouge Police Department, with the assistance of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Pointe Coupee Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Offices for the Nineteenth and Eighteenth Judicial Districts.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys M. Patricia Jones, who serves as Senior Litigation Counsel, and Robert W. Piedrahita, who serves as Litigation Counsel.
NOTE: A federal complaint is an accusation by the United States. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
