State troopers have arrested Billy Daigle, 41, the man who hit and killed a sheriff’s deputy with a car Wednesday in Lafourche Parish, according to Public Information Officer Larry Weidel.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. outside a convenience store in Chackbay, Weidel said, where deputy Martha Woods Shareef, 53, was responding to a burglary alarm. Weidel said the store had been broken into.

Shareef approached Daigle, and dispatchers later heard a loud scream over her mobile radio. Shortly after, an employee of the convenience store presumably took Shareef's radio and spoke to dispatchers, giving a "very good description of the vehicle," Weidel said.

Lafourche Sherrif's Office

Martha Woods Shareef was run over by a car and killed after responding to a robbery at a local convenience store.

Weidel said Daigle had ran over the deputy, killing her. He then fled from the scene.

Police put out a warning and shut down traffic along La. 648. A pursuit ensued after state police spotted the suspect driving the vehicle. Daigle crashed the vehicle into Bayou Lafourche just south of Thibodaux on La. 1, but managed to get out of the vehicle and swim to the other side of LA.308. He was seen climbing up the bank across the bayou.

Deputies found Daigle hiding under a house on the bayouside on Hwy. 308, Weidel said, adding that the search lasted under an hour.

Shareef, who was a 15-year veteran of the Lafourche Sheriff's Office, was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

"She will be sorely missed. She was a girl who sang the star-spangled banner at all of our functions that we had at the sheriff’s office. She was much loved," Weidel said.

Lafourche Sheriff's Office

This man allegedly ran over and killed Martha Woods, a Lafourche sheriff's deputy

She was a patrol officer, a former school resource officer and a supervisor, Weidel said.

"Martha was best known for her inspiring version of the Star Spangled Banner, which she sang at all graduations and formal functions of the Sheriff’s Office," Weidel said.

Weidel said she left behind a family and children, but did not specify how many children she left behind.

State police have opened La. 1 and La. 308 at La. 648 in Thibodaux down to the St. Charles Bypass Road after finding the suspect.