Tensas Parish sheriff’s officials and Louisiana State Police Troop F are investigating the shooting death of a Waterproof man by authorities. The fatality followed a six-hour hostage standoff Friday afternoon.

Deputies responded shortly before noon to a disturbance at a house on Church Lane in the rural town of 834 people near the Mississippi River.  A release by the state police said Tensas officials found Okie Lutcher Jr., 54, armed with a handgun after threatening a utility worker. After refusing to exit the home, Lutcher took an elderly relative hostage, the release said, holding deputies at bay until the state police SWAT team was requested.

SWAT team members rescued the relative, whose name was not released, after entering a back door while Lutcher stepped onto the front porch. Law enforcement officers used pepper spray and a Taser in attempts to subdue Lutcher, to no avail.

Officers shot and killed Lutcher, who assaulted them with a firearm, the release said.

He died at the scene around 7:30 p.m.

Troop F spokesman Sgt. Julie Lewis confirmed in published reports on Saturday that Lutcher had a criminal past.

An autopsy was expected.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com.