Roll of Honor
Octavio Rafael Gonzalez
Incident
Captain Octavio Gonzalez was shot and killed while participating in a manhunt for two suspects who had shot and wounded another deputy minutes earlier.
The wounded deputy and his partner were conducting a narcotics operation and had stopped a vehicle with out-of-state plates on U.S. Highway 51. As the deputies approached the vehicle, the driver opened fire on them, striking one of the deputies in the leg.
Both suspects then fled the scene as other units responded to the area. While Captain Gonzalez searched for the suspects in the Spring Meadow Subdivision in LaPlace at 1:20 a.m., he was distracted by a female posing as a stranded motorist. As he contacted dispatch, he was ambushed by the male suspect and shot in the back and side three times.
The male and female suspects then stole Captain Gonzalez's duty rifle and vehicle and fled into a residential area, where they took three people, including an elderly female and a young boy, hostage in their home. The shooter eventually surrendered after a standoff at the home.
The female suspect, a convicted felon, was sentenced to 40 years for three counts of kidnapping and 50 years for two counts of armed robbery. On April 1, 2008, the male suspect, a convicted felon, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole and an additional 50 years for the attempted murder of the deputy.
Captain Gonzalez had served with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Department for 13 years and served as the commander of the Narcotics Division.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-9FB10E00- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Gonzalez gave the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the LaPlace community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Gonzalez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Octavio Rafael Gonzalez is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, 7 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 87.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Octavio Rafael Gonzalez's cause is highlighted.
How Octavio Rafael Gonzalez Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Octavio Rafael Gonzalez is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Octavio Rafael Gonzalez was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
