Incident
Corporal Shawn Kelly succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on May 11th, 2023, after responding to a disorderly subject call at the Spring Park Plaza in the 2300 block of South Range Road at about 4:30 pm.
A man had been involved in several road rage incidents in the area and was arguing with a woman he did not know in the parking lot of the shopping center. Corporal Kelly was working a traffic assignment but responded to the scene because patrol officers were on other calls. As he and another officer arrived at the scene, the man opened fire from his car, striking Corporal Kelly multiple times.
The man fled but was shot and killed by a Livingston Parish sheriff's deputy after he approached the deputy while holding a gun.
Corporal Kelly was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition until succumbing to his wounds 22 days later on June 2nd, 2023.
Corporal Kelly had served with the Denham Springs Police Department for four years. He had previously served with the Louisiana Department of Corrections and had a total of 29 years of law enforcement service.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four children, two daughters, a son, a niece, and four nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-CA6555F5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
29 years. You could have gone home.
Corporal Kelly gave the Denham Springs Police Department 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Denham Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Kelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Shawn Kevin Kelly is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Denham Springs Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Shawn Kevin Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How Shawn Kevin Kelly Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Shawn Kevin Kelly is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Shawn Kevin Kelly was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Denham Springs Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
