A Louisiana State Police officer who forwarded a racial libel recording to a black colleague who was being investigated in connection with drugs, shot and killed himself on Wednesday after authorities arrived at his home, officials said.
State Police Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis sent an email to the soldiers to inform them of the death of senior soldier August “Gus” McKay and that he was under investigation at the time.
A strong Louisiana State Police presence is seen at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church during Private Master Chris Hollingsworth’s funeral services in West Monroe, Louisiana.
(AP)
The 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, join me in prayer for Trooper McKay, his family and colleagues across the LSP family,” wrote Davis.
The Washington Parish Coroner’s Office said it was investigating the cause and form of the death.
FLORIDA MAN ACCORDING TO SUGGESTING THAT HE WAS A POLICE DURING THE SEXUAL BATTERY, THEFT ATTACK: COPS
McKay made headlines earlier this year after the State Police apologized for not disciplining him when his Apple Watch recorded him using racial slur and he inadvertently forwarded the recording to a black colleague.
Governor John Bel Edwards said it was “unacceptable” that the State Police did not discipline McKay in the 2017 incident, adding that he was “shocked that such disgusting language was used by a Louisiana State Police soldier.”
McKay told investigators at the time that “the stars couldn’t have lined up worse … It would be like I accidentally sent a picture of my naked wife to someone.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
State Police chiefs said McKay’s use of a racial slur was an isolated incident, but an Associated Press investigation found a dozen more cases in a three-year period when officials forwarded racist emails with subjects like “PRIDE TO BE WHITE “. or some humiliating minority colleagues with names like “Hershey’s Kiss”, “Django” and “Egg Roll”.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.