Caddo Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Dunn, who was shot and wounded in February, was honored today with the department’s Purple Heart. Sheriff Jay Long presented the award during a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Office Re-entry Facility.

Dunn sustained injuries to the upper body on February 7 while assisting the U.S. Marshals Task Force in executing an arrest warrant at a west Shreveport apartment complex. The suspect, wanted on a felony murder warrant, produced a firearm during the arrest, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Tragically, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, while Dunn was injured and subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.

“There is no routine day in law enforcement,” Sheriff Long remarked. “We train and prepare and hope at the end of the day to go home to our loved ones. We are thankful that Justin will be returning to service soon and appreciate the sacrifice he made while protecting our citizens.”

The ceremony was attended by Ron Davis, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service, underscoring the collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in apprehending dangerous criminal fugitives.

This marks the fifth Purple Heart awarded by the Caddo Sheriff’s Office since 1989, recognizing deputies who sustain serious bodily harm inflicted by assailants.