Hancock County sheriff deputy dies from accidental self-inflicted gunshot wounds

On January 2, 2018, Deputy John Schmidt was injured by an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Deputy Schmidt was transported via American Medical Response to Hancock Medical Center, where he was then transported by Flight Care to University Medical Center in New Orleans. Deputy Schmidt later died as a result of his injuries.

Initial investigation into the shooting appears to show that Deputy Schmidt accidently shot himself at his residence, while cleaning a personal firearm.

Deputy Schmidt was a veteran of the New Orleans Police Department, Madisonville Police Department, and a retired educator of 38 years at Archbishop Rummel High School. Deputy Schmidt was hired by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office on December 18, 2017, as a part-time deputy and was seeking to obtain a reserve certification.