BOGALUSA, La. — A wild and woolly city council meeting Tuesday included threats of gun violence, according to a social media post published by Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Z. Troung on Wednesday afternoon.
In the post, Mayor Troung claimed a councilmember threatened him with a “loaded double barrel shotgun" during an outburst caught on livestream.
"What example are we setting," posted the mayor, who said he would be pressing charges against the unnamed council member. "Violence is never the answer and I’m tired of the death threats."
In the video, Councilwoman Penny Douglas can be seen and heard in a heated exchange with the mayor as she leaves the meeting room.
The mayor's full statement on Facebook read:
"The Bogalusa City Council’s lack of decorum has become concerning. Last night, I was threatened by a council person with a “loaded double barrel shotgun.” Being that this incident was caught on livestream, I have decided to press charges to make an example. We cannot decry gun violence amongst teenagers and conduct ourselves in this manner. What example are we setting? Violence is -never- the answer and I’m tired of the death threats.
"The council also passed an unwarranted spending freeze, meaning programs like the summer YouthCorps jobs program have been cancelled. This freeze also impacts essential services like police and fire. More information forthcoming. More people have to get engaged with what’s going on in city government."
This story will be updated once further information becomes available.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.