Terry Lee Melancon Jr.
Detective

Terry Lee Melancon Jr.

Baton Rouge Police Department — Baton Rouge, LA
Felonious
End of Watch August 10, 2005
Age 31
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Terry Melancon was shot and killed while executing a search warrant.

He and two other officers had obtained a search warrant for a drug dealer's home. The officers forced their way into the home after its occupant refused to let them in. As they entered, they were met with gunfire. Detective Melancon was shot and killed, and the two other officers were wounded. The suspect was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.

Detective Melancon had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for 4 years.

He and two other officers had obtained a search warrant for a drug dealer's home. The officers forced their way into the home after its occupant refused to let them in. As they entered, they were met with gunfire. Detective Melancon was shot and killed, and the two other officers were wounded. The suspect was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.

Detective Melancon had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee, parents, two sisters, and two nieces.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-26A2A39D
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.
Detective Melancon gave the Baton Rouge Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Melancon.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Baton Rouge, LA
Platform Identity brpd.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 10, 2005
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Detective Terry Lee Melancon Jr. 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 Baton Rouge Police Department, 17 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this agency's fallen.

Baton Rouge Police Department
17
of 27 officers
63% Felonious
LA — Statewide
364
of 595 officers
61.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Terry Lee Melancon Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Terry Lee Melancon Jr. Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Terry Lee Melancon Jr. is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Terry Lee Melancon Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909