A deputy U.S. marshal was shot and killed Monday in Alexandria, Louisiana, and authorities have identified the suspect as Clarence A. Frazier Jr., 48, of Alexandria, who has been charged in federal court with the murder of Deputy Marshal Drew Hanson.
Authorities filed a criminal complaint against Frazier after he was taken into custody Monday based on an FBI agent’s affidavit, and a federal magistrate unsealed the complaint Tuesday. Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche said Frazier would be "held accountable to the fullest extent of the law." A federal public defender representing Frazier did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
An FBI agent, James Rimmer, said in an affidavit that marshals and Rapides Parish sheriff’s detectives entered Frazier’s home Monday to serve an arrest warrant for contempt of court after he failed to appear for a scheduled trial. Rimmer said officers found Frazier in a bedroom, that he shot at officers and fatally wounded Hanson, and that Frazier then barricaded himself before being arrested after a standoff.
Online court records show Frazier had a trial scheduled that day in Rapides Parish District Court in a case filed by prosecutors in 2024 charging him with third-degree rape, punishable by up to 25 years, and sexual battery on a person with infirmities, punishable by up to 20 years. An online list maintained by the local sheriff’s department showed Frazier was a registered sex offender.
The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office said its detectives were with marshals when the shooting occurred at about 3 p.m., and that after a lengthy standoff the suspect, who sustained injuries, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital; the standoff lasted roughly three hours.
The FBI, the sheriff’s office and the Louisiana State Police are conducting a joint investigation with the FBI in the lead. The FBI New Orleans Field Office said, "Because this is a very active and ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time."
FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media late Monday night that the bureau is "offering full resources" and added, "Please pray for the deputy's family and friends."
Several neighbors said they know the suspect and that he lives a few houses from the scene. One neighbor who asked not to be identified said, "He was a good man. You know? He was always in good spirits. You know? So definitely didn't expect this." Louis Means, a cashier at the nearby Tobacco Plus, said, "I actually gave him a ride over to Popeye's one day, and he spoke a lot of life into me. He was a good dude. He had a lot of wisdom on him. You never would have expected something like this."
An area resident said she heard multiple gunshots and immediately moved to protect her children. "I just kept telling them, just get down. I had them in the room, down. Because I didn't know what was going on," she said. Alexandria is approximately 95 miles northwest of Baton Rouge.
Tom Chittum, the former associate deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, said, "Fugitive operations are some of the most dangerous situations that law enforcement officers face because they are often pursuing people who know they are wanted, are on alert, and have already decided they are not going to be taken into custody without a fight. It is truly dangerous work."