Louisiana Authorities Say 23-Year Veteran Officer Died In Hit-And-Run, Suspect Hates Police

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana, sergeant reportedly succumbed to his injuries Sunday after an alleged intentional hit-and-run incident back in June.

Sergeant Caleb Eisworth died Sunday surrounded by his loved ones, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse announced in a Facebook post. 41-year-old Gad Black allegedly drove his pickup truck into Eisworth’s police motorcycle on June 16, critically injuring the officer, according to WDSU. Officials claimed that the incident was intentional as the suspect allegedly told officers in an interview that he hated law enforcement.

“Caleb was an amazing officer and a good man. He spent seven weeks fighting hard to overcome his injuries, but ultimately lost his battle today,” Morse said.

Investigators allegedly discovered a social media post tied to Black and arrested him the same day of the hit-and-run. Black possessed a “deep-rooted hatred for law enforcement personnel,” according to arrest documents obtained by WBRZ (RELATED: Insane Video Shows Alleged Hit-And-Run Suspect Lead Police On Wild High-Speed Chase)

On Sunday, East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said Black’s attempted murder charge will be changed to first-degree murder, according to WBRZ.

Moore said he intends to press for the death penalty in Black’s case but plans to speak with the sergeant’s family before deciding.

“This case, surely is statutorily and factually, made for the death penalty,” the DA said. “We always seek input of the family. I assume that I know what their answer is, but I don’t want to just assume that; I want to speak with them.”

“The one thing is that he was always smiling, you could not get a smile off of his face,” Moore said of Eisworth. “Whatever the situation was, he would find a way to smile and be a nice guy. He wanted to ride those motorcycles.”

The police department shared an update provided by Eisworth’s family on the sergeant’s condition on July 9 saying doctors decided both of his legs required amputation above the knee.

Authorities previously arrested Black in 2014 on several charges stemming from a police chase, WDSU reported, citing court records. Black faced charges including battery on a police officer and aggravated assault with a vehicle on an officer.

Asia Raby, an individual believed to be related to Black, faces obstruction of justice charges after she allegedly contacted police regarding the incident to say she had the vehicle involved before ending the call.