The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office has released new details following last week’s officer-involved shooting in Haughton.
The incident that led to the shooting on May 11 began in the early afternoon with an initial domestic violence and robbery call to a Haughton residence. It then led to another call to the residence later that evening at which time the shooting took place.
Around 2:45 p.m. on May 11, a mother contacted the Bossier Sheriff’s Office to report that she had been beaten by her son and that he had taken her car without her permission. The mother reported that her 33-year-old son, Benjamin Lee Sellers, who lives at her residence on 300 block of James Lane in Haughton, got into an argument with her while demanding she give him the keys to her car. When she refused, he hit her in the head multiple times and smashed her with a glass vase, leaving her with bruises and cuts to her face and left arm. He then took off with the vehicle.
When deputies arrived a short time later, they called medics to tend to the mother’s injuries, and she was then able to get to another location for safety. Deputies issued a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) for the vehicle and checked with the neighbors about the incident.
Then around 8:50 p.m., Bossier Sheriff’s Office was contacted to say that Sellers had returned to the residence. Patrol deputy Lt. Josh Cathcart and another deputy arrived at the residence a few minutes later; Lt. Cathcart approached the front door, while the other deputy went around to the rear of the trailer home. Lt. Cathcart noticed the main door was open and could see Sellers standing inside.
Lt. Cathcart announced his presence as he entered the residence, and Sellers confirmed his identity with the deputy, stating he was Benjamin Sellers. Sellers was standing at a bar cleaning fish, and Lt. Cathcart slowly approached him to take him into custody. Sellers picked up a knife, holding it in a stabbing position and advanced toward Lt. Cathcart, who repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife as he backed up. Sellers continued towards Lt. Cathcart with the knife, and Lt. Cathcart discharged his weapon three times, striking Sellers in the chest, ending the threat.
Other deputies were quickly on the scene and began administering lifesaving measures to Sellers until emergency medical services arrived shortly after 9 p.m. The Bossier Parish Coroner also arrived on the residence and pronounced Sellers deceased at the scene.
“No deputy ever wants to be put in a situation in which he or she has to use deadly force, but when faced with an imminent deadly threat, we will take action,” said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. “We are saddened that this mother had to deal with the loss of her son on Mother’s Day weekend, but glad that Lt. Cathcart was able to go home safely to his family.”
The case remains under investigation and is being referred to the Bossier/Webster District Attorney’s Office for further review. As per Bossier Sheriff’s Office policy, Lt. Cathcart remains on paid administrative leave.
