Victor White III,
Iberia Parish, Louisiana
March 22, 2014
Agencies: Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office Louisiana
Cause of death: Shooting
Last updated: over 5 years ago
People tracking this case: 1 -- Click here to Track this.
Overview 
The coroner says Victor White shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser. The autopsy report claims, White's injuries "are possible to be self-inflicted even with the hands handcuffed behind the back." "Short of him being Houdini or David Copperfield, it's not possible," said White's family's attorney.
On August 6, 2018, the two-hour documentary Sugartown aired which focuses on the inconsistencies in the case.
Legal Action
District Attorney Phil Haney of the 16th Judicial Circuit, who said he will let a federal investigation run its course before making a decision.
On December 8, 2015, the U.S. Justice Department announced that there was insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against any official with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White III.
On February 5, 2016, the 16th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced that no criminal charges would be filed in connection with the death of Victor White III, who died of self-inflicted gunshot wound while in custody of the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office.
On October 24, 2017, it was reported that a federal judge was refusing to dismiss a lawsuit filed against Iberia Parish by the family of White. U. S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna said there were “factual discrepancies” that raised questions about the “trustworthiness” of the Louisiana State Police investigation of White’s death.
A federal trial that was scheduled for Feb. 5 for Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and family members of the late Victor White III has been postponed to an unknown date after the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit added last-minute witnesses to court proceedings.
On March 16, 2018, it was announced that a settlement agreement had resolved the federal lawsuit.
On September 5, 2018, Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna said in a 23-page ruling that “the minor child’s privacy interest outweighs the public’s right to know the amount paid to settle the case.”
Community and Family Efforts
Community leaders have begun meeting to plan a week long rally beginning October 12, 2015. The march will be in unison with the 19th annual nationwide marches held by The October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality.
April 2016 Protestors rally to end Sheriff Louis Ackal’s term in office
Additional Resources:
- https://katc.com/news/around-acadiana/iberia-parish/2018/09/05/judge-denies-motion-to-unseal-victor-white-settlement-amount/ added September 09, 2018 09:53
- https://thegrio.com/2018/08/06/id-new-sugar-town-documentary-sheds-light-on-victor-white-death-police-misconduct-in-louisiana/ added August 07, 2018 18:24
- https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2018/03/17/settlement-resolves-suit-handcuffed-mans-shooting-death/435955002/ added March 19, 2018 15:53
- http://www.iberianet.com/news/ackal-s-trial-delayed/article_2ef6101e-0707-11e8-a57e-ab184a1302cc.html added February 02, 2018 11:30
- http://klfy.com/2017/10/24/jury-to-determine-whether-victor-white-committed-suicide-in-back-of-police-unit/ added November 07, 2017 17:48
- http://theadvocate.com/news/15616729-81/protestors-call-for-iberia-parish-sheriff-louis-ackal-to-resign-because-of-brutality-probe-and-crimi added April 28, 2016 15:55
- http://www.iberianet.com/breaking_news/criminal-charges-won-t-be-filed-in-death-of-victor/article_01755246-cc33-11e5-bc56-83ef2f6ad419.html added February 08, 2016 17:13
- http://klfy.com/2015/12/08/justice-department-will-not-pursue-charges-in-victor-white-shooting/ added December 09, 2015 00:54
- http://www.iberianet.com/news/one-year-later-no-answer/article_1a9d61fa-544c-11e5-8c9f-8f9cba8668f2.html added September 07, 2015 10:12
- http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/06/21/group-hold-weeklong-police-protest-new-iberia/29088705/ added June 22, 2015 09:58