Breaux Bridge police officer, Travis Guillot, won't be charged with a crime after Wednesday's grand jury decision. In December of 2012, investigators say Guillot shot and killed 15-year-old Daraneisha Harris. Police say, this happened after she struck a pedestrian and a police unit with a car, before crashing into a ditch.
It was a decision that was difficult to hear for family and friends of Harris. They left the courthouse Wednesday without the charges they had hoped for against Guillot. The family chose not to comment, but Harris's mother was visibly upset with the decision.
"We presented everything that (Louisiana State Police) had. All the witnesses, all of the physical evidence, all of that was presented to the grand jury. In their mind, they determined there was no crime committed by the officer involved in the shooting and the case should not go forward as any criminal case against the officer," Assistant Attorney General Jeff Traylor said.
Traylor says a 2nd degree murder or manslaughter charge could have been considered if the grand jury had decided otherwise.
Guillot has been on paid administrative leave since the December 2012 incident. Breaux Bridge police had no comment on Guillot's future with the department until they can review the decision for themselves.