Pubdate: Sat, 13 Apr 2002
Source: Times, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 The Times
Contact:  http://www.shreveporttimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1019
Author: Seth Parsons

SHREVEPORT TEEN WOUNDED IN UNDERCOVER DRUG BUY

An attempted undercover narcotics buy in a Shreveport park Friday afternoon 
resulted in a Shreveport teen-ager being shot in the chest by an Ark-La-Tex 
Task Force agent.

Antonio Shamarae Richmond, 19, of the 4200 block of Robinhood Street was 
shot once when he allegedly pulled a gun and tried to rob the agent of 
money intended to be used in a drug purchase, Caddo sheriff's office 
officials said. Richmond was listed in critical condition Friday at LSU 
Hospital in Shreveport.

And investigators found that a black trash bag Richmond allegedly tried to 
sell as cocaine contained concrete chips and pebbles, Caddo Sheriff Steve 
Prator said. "It was a robbery from the start to the finish. We're very 
fortunate the agent wasn't hurt."

The narcotics agent, an employee of the Cass County, Texas, district 
attorney's office, was not identified because of the sensitive nature of 
his job. "You just don't tell people who those undercover officers are," 
task force Commander Jerry Walraven said.

The agent has more than 10 years of law enforcement experience, Walraven said.

This is the first time an Ark-La-Tex Task Force member has had to use 
deadly force in the task force's 15-year history, Walraven said.

Richmond was identified as a suspected cocaine dealer in an unrelated 
undercover buy Thursday, sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick said. "They 
(narcotics agents) made a buy (Thursday) and made plans to further that 
with another buy," she said Friday.

Task force agents arranged for the purchase of $3,000 worth of cocaine and 
were to meet with two people, including Richmond and one identified as Tony 
Dewayne Goode, 30, of Shreveport, on Friday on the Airport Park playground 
in the 6300 block of Kennedy Drive to exchange money for drugs, Prator said.

Richmond allegedly pulled a gun after the agent began to look in the bag, 
Chadwick said. A struggle ensued, and, while the agent was reaching for his 
weapon, a third man, Roderick Douglas, 18, of Shreveport, began warning the 
others the agent was reaching for a gun, Chadwick said.

The agent then fired one shot, striking Richmond in the left side of his 
chest, Chadwick said. "Richmond never got a shot off."

At least six Caddo sheriff's deputies were conducting electronic 
surveillance of the park during the buy and ran to assist the agent when 
the struggle began, Prator said.

Four people, including Richmond, were taken into custody after the 
shooting, Prator said. Richmond's gun was recovered by investigators at the 
scene, the sheriff said. Goode and Douglas were booked into the Caddo 
Correctional Center late Friday on one count each of attempted conspiracy 
to distribute, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance and 
false representation. Douglas was also booked on a warrant for theft.

Caddo deputies searched Richmond's residence during a drug-related 
investigation in February, Prator said. Richmond is scheduled for a 
District Court arraignment in relation to that case in May. Charges include 
Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, dog fighting and possession of 
drug paraphernalia.
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