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At a news conference today, the NOPD and FBI announced the amount of the award has been increased to $30,000.
Passaro was shot responding to a robbery at a Dollar General store last Saturday, Feb. 23, on St. Claude Avenue. Passaro remains in serious condition in a local hospital. (Scroll down to view surveillance photos of the suspected shooter.)
Passaro was the first officer to respond to the robbery.
The NOPD says the suspect had forced the store's employees into an office in an attempt to get them to open the safe. A spokesman says that when the officer arrived on the scene and identified himself, the suspect burst out of the office and fired three rounds, hitting Passaro twice. A former JPSO officer who happened to be shopping in the store at the time picked up the fallen officer's radio to call for help.
The latest description of the suspect as provided by the NOPD:
The latest description of the suspect as provided by the NOPD:
African-American male with a light complexion, between the ages of 35 and 40 years, standing approximately 5’7 and weighing approximately 140 to 150 lbs. The suspect utilized an unknown make and model .380 semi- automatic handgun that was both black and chrome with a short barrel. The morning of the shooting the suspect was wearing a plain gray zip up hoodie jacket, dark or blue jeans and an unknown type of shoes. He wore a pair of dark, wrap-around sun glasses and a white bandana with blue paisley print on it that was positioned over the bridge of his nose and covered his mouth as well. He was also in possession of a black draw string bag with a white Nike “Swoosh” emblem on it.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
