A Louisiana State Police officer who sent a recording of a racial riot to a black colleague and who is being investigated for drugs shot himself dead Wednesday after authorities showed up at his home, police said.
The police superintendent col. Lamar Davis sent an email to troops telling them of the death of senior soldier August “Gus” McKay and that he was being investigated at the time.
A heavy Louis police presence is seen in New Chapel Hill Baptist Church during funeral services for Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth in West Monroe, La.
(AP)
State police did not provide details about the investigation, but sources with knowledge of the investigation told The Advocate that it was ‘drug related’.
“In this time of need, I must please pray with me for Trooper McKay, his family and his colleagues throughout the LSP family,” Davis wrote.
The Washington Parish Coroner’s Office said it was investigating the cause and manner of death.
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McKay made headlines earlier this year after state police apologized for not disciplining him when his Apple Watch recorded him with a racial slur and accidentally sent the recording to a black colleague.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said it was “unacceptable” that state police did not discipline McKay in the 2017 incident, adding that he was “terrified that a disgusting language was being used by a Louisiana police officer.”
McKay told investigators at the time that “the stars could not have posed worse. … It would be as if I had accidentally sent a photo of my naked wife to someone.”
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According to state police, McKay’s use of a racial stir was an isolated incident, but an Associated Press investigation found a dozen more cases over a three-year period in which employees forwarded racist emails with topics such as’ PROUD TO BE WHITE ‘. or people who humiliate minority colleagues with names like ‘Hershey’s Kiss’, ‘Django’ and ‘Egg Roll’.
Associated Press contributed to this report.