Suspect sought in killing of New Orleans police officer

NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans police officer was shot and killed Saturday while driving a prisoner, leading to a sprawling manhunt.

Police Superintendent Michael Harrison identified the suspect as 33-year-old Travis Boys, who had been arrested hours earlier on suspicion of aggravated assault.

The officer was identified as Daryle Holloway, 45, a 22-year veteran of the department, Harrison said. He was the father of three children.

"Today is an extremely sad day," Harrison said at a news conference. "Not only is it a sad day for me, it's a sad day for the city of New Orleans, especially the Holloway family."

Boys, who was handcuffed from behind, was somehow able to get his hands in front of him and get into the front seat through a gap in the cage that separates the front and back seats of the police car, Harrison said.

While Holloway was shot, it was not immediately clear if he died from that wound, because he crashed his vehicle into a utility pole at Elysian Fields and North Claiborne avenues. An autopsy is pending.

Paramedics responded at about 8 a.m. and found that Holloway was in the front seat suffering from a gunshot wound. He died about 9 a.m. at a local hospital, Harrison said.

It was not immediately clear if the gun used was Holloway's.

"We don't believe it was the officer's gun," said New Orleans Police Department spokesman Tyler Gamble.

Authorities from the NOPD, Louisiana State Police and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, among other agencies, were searching for Boys late Saturday afternoon.

"We have a large manhunt to look for this subject," Harrison said. "He will not get away with this and justice will be served and he will pay for what he did in killing our brother, Officer Holloway."

Mayor Mitch Landrieu decried the incident as a "despicable, cowardly act."

"Killing an officer in the line of duty is an attack on our community that will not stand," Landrieu said. "We are bringing together every law enforcement resource at our disposal to find, capture and prosecute Travis Boys for this heinous crime."

Harrison described Holloway as a "very experienced" officer known for his dedication to the job and fun-loving personality.

"He was a very lively person full of personality. You couldn't be around Daryle for three minutes without becoming his friend," Harrison said. "I personally know he was brave and courageous and served the city well every day of his career."

Harrison notified Holloway's family and fellow officers of the death a short time after the officer died.

"As a new chief it was the absolute hardest thing I had to do," Harrison said. "You never get used to that."