Investigation Underway After Police Shooting Claims Life of Justin Rhine in New Iberia, Louisiana
NEW IBERIA, La. — A community is left grieving and searching for answers following an officer-involved shooting in New Iberia that claimed the life of 30-year-old Justin Rhine on Wednesday evening. The Louisiana State Police are leading the investigation into the incident, which unfolded near the intersection of Ann Street and Buckeye Street around 8 p.m.
According to preliminary reports from the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations, local police officers and deputies were attempting to execute an Order of Protective Custody (OPC) for Rhine—a civil mandate used in mental health crises to involuntarily detain individuals considered a danger to themselves or others. Authorities allege that when law enforcement attempted to detain him, Rhine fled the scene. During the pursuit, he reportedly brandished a firearm, prompting New Iberia police officers to open fire. Rhine was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured.
Community Reaction: Grief, Shock, and Questions
The fatal encounter has left many in the New Iberia community stunned, including Raymond “Shoe Do” Lewis, a respected member of the New Iberia School Board, who considered Rhine a close friend. Lewis revealed he had dropped Rhine off at his home just 30 minutes before the fatal shooting occurred.
“When they said Justin, I said, ‘What?’” Lewis recounted, visibly shaken. “I just talked to Justin. They told me the police shot him.”
Like many in the community, Lewis said he is struggling to comprehend the events that unfolded so quickly after he last saw Rhine. He called the situation “another painful chapter in the long history of gun violence” that continues to affect local families, regardless of who pulls the trigger.
“The community is angry right now,” Lewis said. “We don’t know what went on, or how it went on. I was told they had five or six units come in, lined up on the right side of the road and got down asking for Justin, and he fled for some reason—that’s what I got second-hand.”
Remembering Justin Rhine
Rhine, by many accounts, was a young man who had made mistakes, but who also had people in his corner who believed he was trying to find a better path. “He was a good guy that made a few mistakes in his life—as we all have done,” Lewis said. “The difference is, he got caught making these mistakes, and some of us never got caught.”
Rhine’s death adds to a growing number of police-involved shootings in Louisiana and across the country that have sparked discussions about mental health responses, community policing, and transparency in use-of-force incidents. Advocates and residents alike are calling for clarity in this case—demanding to understand why the situation escalated to fatal violence.
“All we want as people—all I want as a representative of the people—is transparency,” Lewis emphasized. “That’s not too much to ask.”
Ongoing Investigation
The Louisiana State Police say the investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are currently collecting statements, reviewing any available surveillance or body camera footage, and examining the sequence of events that led to Rhine’s death.
Authorities have not yet released body camera footage from the responding officers or a detailed timeline of the encounter. The use of deadly force in cases involving Orders of Protective Custody, especially those concerning individuals experiencing mental health issues, is expected to be a key point of inquiry as the investigation moves forward.
Law enforcement officials have pledged to release more details as the investigation progresses. In the meantime, community leaders are urging residents to remain peaceful but vocal in demanding a full and transparent account of what happened.
What’s Next
As Louisiana State Police continue their probe, the New Iberia community is expected to come together in vigils and gatherings to honor Rhine’s life and call for justice. Leaders like Lewis are preparing to advocate not only for transparency but also for reforms in mental health intervention strategies, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“This didn’t have to end with a young man’s life lost,” Lewis said. “Now we have to carry the weight of this moment and make sure it means something.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available from the Louisiana State Police and local authorities.