NEW IBERIA, La. ( KLFY ) — The suspect in Thursday’s armed hostage standoff in Jeanerette which resulted in the death of one Lafayette police officer and the injury of three officers had his first court appearance Friday morning for outstanding warrants, the Iberia Parish Clerk of Court confirmed.

Nyjal Hurst, 31, appeared in court for home invasion and aggravated second-degree battery charges, the clerk’s office said, and that a combined $500,000 bond was set for the two charges. State Police are investigating the standoff and shooting, and have not yet charged Hurst in connection with that incident.

Authorities said Thursday’s incident began when the City Marshal attempted to serve Hurst an arrest warrant at a home in the 2500 block of Martin Luther King Drive in Jeanerette.

According to law enforcement, Hurst had outstanding arrest warrants for Jeanerette Police Department for the above mentioned charges. Other outstanding charges are also pending.

The hours-long hostage standoff resulted in the death of Sr. Cpl. Segus R. Jolivette, 35, of the Lafayette Police Department.

Hurst has a long criminal history, court records show, in the following parishes:

Iberia Parish

In 2022, Hurst pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to four years for the assault charge and eight for the gun offense, which were to be served concurrently, per court minutes. He was given credit for time already served.

According to Iberia Parish court records, those charges were part of a slew of offenses he collected in mid-November 2018. Among other offenses, he faced charges including battery of a dating partner, telephone harassment and criminal damages – but those extra charges were abandoned as part of a plea agreement.

Hurst was previously accused of attempted first-degree murder but, in 2017, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. He was sentenced to serve 10 years at hard labor, according to Iberia Parish court records. He was given credit for time served.

Lafayette Parish

Last year, Hurst was charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of schedule II drugs, resisting arrest and several gun charges, including possessing firearms with obliterated numbers or marks.

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He was set for arraignment in November on those charges, but because he didn’t appear for court, his arraignment was rescheduled. He failed to show up for court in February and again in May when the court attempted to hold his arraignment. Court minutes show that because of his nonappearance in February, a fugitive warrant was issued for his arrest.

St. Mary Parish

Online court records show that Hurst faced a domestic abuse battery charge in 2014.

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