HE PLANNED HIS DEMISE VIA SUICIDE-BY-COP. THEN, HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND KILLED THE COP.

A Mississippi man killed a cop who tried to intervene after he made suicide threats. Now, he will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.

Last week, Harrison County Circuit Judge Lisa Dodson handed Joseph Rohrbacker, 33, a life term in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of Hancock County Police Officer Lt. Michael Boutte, Sr. Rohrbacker pleaded guilty to capital murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated assault of a peace officer.

On Feb. 1, 2021, officers responded to the defendant’s home on Caesar Necaise Road after receiving a 911 distress call about a suicide attempt. Upon arriving at the scene, Boutte was met by a volley of gunfire, striking him in the head and face. Right behind the victim followed Deputy Braxton Manuel, whose patrol vehicle was also hit by a gunshot before returning fire and striking Rohrbacker in the abdomen.

The 57-year-old victim was rushed to a Louisiana hospital, later succumbing to his wounds.

Before the fatal incident, the defendant had displayed erratic and combative behaviors after he claimed a family member had accused him of touching her inappropriately. Then, in a rage, he slit his dog’s throat and threatened suicide, hoping the police would kill him.

According to WLOX, Rohrbacker told the judge he had been off his meds at the time of the incident. In addition, the court ordered the defendant to undergo a series of psychological evaluations. As a result, they determined Rohrbacker was intellectually impaired within the axis of mental retardation. Furthermore, Rohrbacker’s record showed he had been declared legally disabled previously.   

During the sentencing hearing, Rohrbacker apologized for his actions and claimed he did not intend to kill anyone. The judge disagreed!

“This was completely senseless, Mr. Rohrbacker. I know you’re sorry, but you can’t take back what you did. You took the life of a man who was doing nothing to you. He didn’t even get the chance to say a word before you shot him,” said Dodson, reported The Sea Coast Echo.

Dodson sentenced the defendant to additional 20 years for shooting at a woman and 30 years for the assault on Manuel. Rohrbacker was ordered to serve both sentences concurrently with the life sentence.