Lafayette police shooting: State judge blocks release of Trayford Pellerin body cam footage

A state judge blocked the public release of any video footage and other reports related to the Lafayette police killing of Trayford Pellerin, prompting Mayor-President Josh Guillory to vow Wednesday he would fight to give the Pellerin family more details.

Lawyers for three officers involved in the shooting received an immediate temporary restraining order late Tuesday from 15th Judicial District Court Judge David Smith, signed by Judge Michelle Breaux on Smith's behalf. Smith has scheduled a hearing for next week to consider extension of that restraining order to block the material from being released.

The temporary restraining order asks that Louisiana State Police, the Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Consolidated Government be prohibited from releasing information related to the Aug. 21 shooting and killing of 31-year-old Pellerin by officers to anyone "not associated with the investigations currently underway."

More:Trayford Pellerin shooting: What we know about his death and the aftermath

Multiple Lafayette officers surrounding him fired at least 17 shots, hitting Pellerin 10 times as he approached the entrance to a gas station, an independent autopsy commissioned by the family states.

Officers said Pellerin had a knife but that they had tried to tase him, and shortly after the shooting Guillory defended the officers' killing of Pellerin, saying he was "threatening" to people inside and outside the gas station.

The filing asks the judge to block the disclosure of several items related to the shooting, including the names of three officers identified as "John Doe," video footage or reports.

The filing comes after Guillory on Friday committed to showing the police body camera footage to Pellerin's family after a meeting with the relatives and their lawyers. Guillory told District Attorney Keith Stutes on Tuesday about his intention to show the video to the family, said spokesman Jamie Angelle. Guillory learned about the restraining order Tuesday afternoon. 

"Mayor-President Guillory is committed to honoring the promise he made to the Pellerin family and has directed city-parish attorneys to advocate for the accommodation of a private viewing for the family of the footage at a hearing (next week)," Angelle said in a statement. 

Ronald Haley, who is representing the family, blamed the Police Association of Lafayette for the information not being released. The requests for the restraining orders do not name the Lafayette police union, only lawyers representing those officers involved — Allyson Prejean, Brett Grayson and Jordan Precht.

"During a time when Lafayette police are coming under national scrutiny and the public is demanding accountability and honesty, they are choosing the spineless route of stall tactics and coverups," he said. "Allowing the family to watch the footage of Mr. Pellerin's homicide will in no way interfere with any investigation by Louisiana State Police or any other investigative agency."

Haley argued that because Guillory would have obscured the identities of the officers who shot Pellerin, the officers involved in the shooting may not have wanted the family to see the footage because it will "implicate" the department or show the officers didn't use proper de-escalation techniques. 

The attorneys representing the officers, who have been placed on paid administrative leave, argued the information is not public record and should be prohibited from being published. 

"The responding officers have not and will not give their written permission for the release of their likeness, photograph or image; therefore any/all images of the responding LPD officers need to be protected and kept confidential," the attorneys wrote in the filing. "(The officers) are concerned for their and their respective family's privacy and safety; and therefore, respectfully request that this and all other records related to the above-captioned matter be placed under judicial seal."

The attorneys are seeking the seal until all administrative, criminal and civil matters are complete. 

When more information is released in the shooting, the community will receive answers, The Police Association of Lafayette said in a statement. 

"When the facts of the case are presented in its entirety, we are confident a much better understanding will come of the split-second decision those officers were faced with on this tragic night," the union said. "As we support our fellow officers, we also grieve for our community and with the Pellerin family. We pray for comfort in this tragic time."

Louisiana State Police, the Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Consolidated Government will have to show Smith why they should be able to release any of the information during the court hearing scheduled for 

Since Pellerin's death, the Lafayette NAACP and local activists have protested, calling for transparency and policy changes at the police department. 

More:Trayford Pellerin shooting: Protesters call for more information, transparency in case

Community members have again criticized the police department for an arrest involving a juvenile Saturday night outside Acadian Lanes. Bystander videos circulating on social media show officers slam the juvenile into a door before repeatedly punching him while he is held on the ground.

Interim Police Chief Scott Morgan placed one officer on administrate leave and removed two others from their regular duties until an investigation can be complete. 

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.