Rick was a member of the Chitimacha Tribal Police Department. He had 15 years of service in law enforcement.
He and two St. Mary Parish deputies responded to reports of a mobile home fire and an armed subject on Flatown Road, near, Charenton shortly after 9:00 a.m. The fire was reported just off of tribal land about one quarter mile from a Chitimacha-owned casino.
 |
| Michael, Archangel, Patron Saint of the Police, pray for Rick |
When Sergeant Riggenbach arrived at the scene the subject shot him with a shotgun, fatally wounding him. The subject then opened fire on the two St. Mary Parish deputies as they arrived at the scene moments later. Both deputies were critically wounded. After the house fire was extinguished the body of its owner, an elderly man, was discovered in the debris.
The subject, Wilbert Thibodeaux, age 48, of Charenton, is being held in the Iberia Parish Jail on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempt first-degree murder and one count of arson in the incident. He has a history of mental illness and sometimes sleeps in cemeteries.
Police officials stated that Rick Riggenbach's actions in this confrontation saved others but did not elaborate.
Rick is survived by many loving friends and family members including his wife and two adult children.
Thank you for serving, Rick.
Pray for all who die in the line of duty.
Let us pray that Rick Riggenbach is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment