Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Richard Kent was shot and killed after arresting a man who was attempting to break into a drink machine at Guy's Grocery on Louisiana 38, east of Kentwood, just after 9:00 pm.
Deputy Kent, along with Kentwood officers, arrived at the scene and arrested the man. Deputy Kent knew the suspect and placed him in his patrol car, and then went inside to take a report from a store employee. While Deputy Kent was inside, the suspect was able to get Deputy Kent's shotgun from its mount on the patrol car's cage.
When Deputy Kent walked out of the store, he saw the suspect pointing the shotgun at him and drew his service weapon. The suspect and Deputy Kent exchanged shots, and Deputy Kent was struck in the chest. The suspect, who was wounded in the arm, walked up to Deputy Kent and shot him a second time as he lay on the ground.
Deputy Kent was transported to a hospital in Hammond, where he died shortly after midnight.
The man then fled but was arrested a short time later after crashing his car. He was convicted of manslaughter in connection with Deputy Kent's murder.
On November 12th, 2021, Louisiana renamed Highway 38 from the Tangipahoa River, a mile east of Louisiana Highway 1054 in Tangipahoa, the Deputy R.A. Kent Memorial Highway.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-64E58AEC- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Kent gave the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hammond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kent.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Richard Amacker Kent, III 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 Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Amacker Kent, III's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Amacker Kent, III Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Amacker Kent, III is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
