...WAYNE RAYBURN SAYS HIS OLDER BROTHER [HOMER POLICE OFFICER MICHEAL RAYBURN] FELL INTO DEPRESSION AFTER SEPARATING FROM HIS WIFE. "ANYTIME THEY WANT TO BE BY THEMSELVES, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON." HE SAYS HE HOPES THEIR STORY WILL BE A WARNING TO ANYONE WATCHING... [HAYNESVILLE POLICE CHIEF ANTHONY] SMITH SAID THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CONFRONTATION BETWEEN RAYBURN AND MILLS, AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME RAYBURN HAS THREATENED TO HARM HIMSELF... HAYNESVILLE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF JASON BRANCH TELLS KSLA NEWS 12 THEY TREATED THE INCIDENT AS A "DOMESTIC SITUATION" INVOLVING AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. HOWEVER, NEIGHBORS TELL US IT WAS DEFINITELY A STAND-OFF BECAUSE OFFICERS EVACUATED THEM FROM THEIR HOMES AND EVENTUALLY USED TEARGAS TO GET RAYBURN OUT... POLICE DID NOT ELABORATE ON THE REASON BEHIND THE SHOOTING EXCEPT TO SAY IT WAS RELATED TO DOMESTIC ISSUES FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS... Videos:
HOMER OFFICER SHOOTS HIMSELF AFTER BARRICADING HIMSELF IN HOME
KTBS
By Chris Redford credford@ktbs.com
May 19, 2009 06:12 PM
[Excerpts] HAYNESVILLE - Shortly after a confrontation with his boss, a Homer police officer went home, barricaded himself inside and eventually shooting himself, the police chief said this afternoon... Homer Police Chief Russell Mills said he had a discussion with Rayburn this morning about a complaint that had been filed against the officer. Rayburn got mad, threatened to resign, stormed out of the police station and got in his truck and drove away, Mills said. Mills said he was concerned Rayburn would harm himself and called the Claiborne Parish sheriff's office... Mills, who would not provide details about the complaint he was addressing, said the officer had personal problems as well [Full article here]
HOMER OFFICER SHOOTS SELF AT HAYNESVILLE HOME
KSLA
May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] HAYNESVILLE - Haynesville Police say a domestic issue led a Homer Police Officer to attempt suicide with his service revolver... Police did not elaborate on the reason behind the shooting except to say it was related to domestic issues from the past few days. [Full article here]
PART-TIME HOMER OFFICER SHOOTS HIMSELF, FAMILY SPEAKS ONLY TO KTAL
KTAL
Karen Hopkins
May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Michael Rayburn’s brother spoke only to KTAL about what led his brother to shoot himself. The family tells us Mike Rayburn dreamed of saving lives as a police officer, but today he tried to take his own. “He told my dad that he loved him. Dad said, “Mike don't do this.” Mike said, “I just can't take it anymore,” Wayne Rayburn said... “Dad went outside to talk to the Haynesville police and my brother shot himself." Wayne Rayburn says Haynesville police shot tear gas inside his brother's home, catching it on fire. “My brother crawled out the door and HPD tased him and handcuffed him”.... Rayburn says officers thought his brother had a gun. “My dad said he hollered out I’m not going to fight.” Wayne Rayburn says paramedics airlifted his brother to LSU health sciences center. He says Tuesday night Mike Rayburn remains in stable but critical condition. “I never got to tell my brother hey I love you until now.” He says his older brother fell into depression after separating from his wife. "Anytime they want to be by themselves, find out what’s going on.” He says he hopes their story will be a warning to anyone watching. “If you see something don't turn a blind eye" [Full article here]
HOMER OFFICER ON SUSPENSION AFTER SHOOTING SELF
Shreveport Times
By Vickie Welborn vwelborn@gannett.com
May 20, 2009
[Excerpts] HAYNESVILLE — A Homer police officer is on suspension and recovering in a Shreveport hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a dispute with the Claiborne town's police chief. Officer Mike Rayburn was in intensive care following surgery Tuesday night after shooting himself in the abdomen earlier that day... Rayburn reportedly said he was going to quit and go home and harm himself. He barricaded himself in his Haynesville residence. Haynesville police, Claiborne sheriff's deputies and Wade Correctional Center officers set up a perimeter around the residence until the entry team could make its move. Attempts also were made to talk Rayburn out of the house. Officers heard a gunshot from inside the dwelling and fired tear gas through a window. The canister started a small fire, prompting Rayburn to begin to crawl out... [Haynesville Police Chief Anthony] Smith said this is not the first confrontation between Rayburn and Mills, and it's not the first time Rayburn has threatened to harm himself. Rayburn formerly was employed by Pafford Ambulance, where his wife works. He also had applied for a job with the Haynesville Police Department. [Full article here]
POLICE OFFICER ATTEMPTED SUICIDE INVESTIGATION
KSLA
By Ben Wolf
Posted: May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] We have new developments in the case of an Ark-La-Tex police officer who allegedly tried to kill himself. Nurses at LSU Hospital list homer police officer Mike Rayburn in serious condition after doctors performed surgery on him this evening. Police say Rayburn shot himself twice in the chest inside his home near the corner of McDonald and Dawson in Haynesville, Louisiana. They say he used his .40 caliber handgun -- the same gun he uses while on duty. Haynesville assistant police chief Jason Branch tells KSLA News 12 they treated the incident as a "domestic situation" involving an attempted suicide. However, neighbors tell us it was definitely a stand-off because officers evacuated them from their homes and eventually used teargas to get Rayburn out of his home. Medics landed a helicopter at a nearby high school football practice field and then flew him to LSU-Hospital... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities suicide attempt louisiana liability]
Condition of former Homer officer improves
ReplyDeleteHOMER — The condition of a Homer officer, who shot himself following a clash with the town's police chief, has been upgraded from critical to serious, a spokesman at LSU Hospital in Shreveport said late Thursday...
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090522/NEWS01/905220326/1060
Hey Mike, keep hanging on and we all love you but you have gotta keep fighting, I know you can do this. Please WAKE UP!!! All My Love, Your Brother WAYNE
ReplyDeleteI will pray for him - and all - too.
ReplyDeleteIts been a year and a half and I still miis u like crazy big brother. Its not the same without u. Sara and I have a new baby, and we named him after u! I love u and miss u.
ReplyDeleteWayne
I didn't know. I'm really sorry Wayne. You are a good brother and I see how hard you worked in his behalf. Your mom too.
ReplyDelete2009: A YEAR IN REVIEW: MAY
The Guardian-Journal
On May 19, former Homer Police Officer Mike Rayburn allegedly attempted suicide after barricading himself in his home in Haynesville. Published reports indicate that he and Homer Police Chief Russell Mills exchanged words earlier in the day, but the tragic event was due to personal family issues, not his status as a police officer. He was airlifted to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in critical condition. No reports have been given since he was released from the hospital into his family’s care. However, it has been reported that Rayburn is now in a skilled nursing care center.
http://www.kcwd.com/gj/2010/briefs-2010-01-07.html
MILLS, ‘WE’RE ALL PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE’: Officer remains in critical condition
KCWD
Michelle Bates, Editor
May 28, 2009
[Excerpts] According to officials at LSU Health Sciences Center, the condition of a former Homer police officer who shot himself last week is still listed as critical. Mike Rayburn, 33, was airlifted to the Shreveport hospital on Tuesday, May 19, after he shot himself at his home in Haynesville... "We’re all still praying for a miracle," [Homer Police Chief Russell Mills] said. "It’s just a very unfortunate turn of events." Published reports indicated that on that fateful afternoon, Rayburn and Mills exchanged words regarding some complaints Mills had received earlier in the day. After the chief confronted Rayburn about the complaints, Mills said he became visibly agitated. Rayburn then stormed out the back door of the police station, leaving in his personal vehicle. Reports say he went to his home in Haynesville where he barricaded himself inside, ultimately shooting himself in the abdomen... Mills said Rayburn had been dealing with some ongoing personal family issues for the last few months. There has been some confusion as to Rayburn’s status as a Homer police officer. Earlier reports indicated that he had been suspended without pay, but it was later stated that he’d been terminated... [Full article here]
OFFICER SHOOTS SELF DURING STANDOFF
The Guardian-Journal
May 21, 2009
[Excerpts] A Homer police officer was airlifted to LSU Health Sciences Center Tuesday afternoon after a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officer Mike Rayburn, 33, reportedly barricaded himself inside his home in Haynesville after he left the Homer Police Station around noon... [Homer Police Chief Russell] Mills said he’d received more than one complaint within minutes of each other, and when Rayburn came back to the police station, he attempted to discuss the complaints with him... Town Attorney Jim Colvin conducted an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, and stated that his investigation revealed that this tragedy had nothing to do with Rayburn’s status as a police officer. Mills said that the events that led up to the end of Tuesday afternoon was a culmination of personal family issues that have been going on for more than two months... Reports say that deputies from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the David Wade Correctional Center’s special response team and the Haynesville Police Department came together at Rayburn’s home, located at the corner of McDonald and Dawson Streets in Haynesville. Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said by the time he arrived in Haynesville, Rayburn was being stabilized by paramedics from Pafford Air One... According to officials at LSU Health Sciences Center, his condition was listed as critical as of press time. [Full article here]
HOMER POLICE CHIEF RECALL EFFORTS BEGIN
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian-Journal
Michelle Bates, Editor
June 11, 2009
A former Homer police officer’s brother is setting in motion efforts to recall Homer Police Chief Russell Mills. Wayne Rayburn, brother of former Homer police officer Mike Rayburn, said he wants the recall in connection to circumstances surrounding his brother’s former position... "Normally, I don’t get involved in politics at all," said W. Rayburn, "but after this situation with my brother, all we have is Russell’s (Mills) side of the story. Some of it just doesn’t make sense"... M. Rayburn remains in the Intensive Care Unit at LSU Health Sciences Center... "He’s in ICU, and he’s still in kind of a coma state," W. Rayburn said. "The doctors think he’s trying to wake up. If he continues to make progress, hopefully we’ll have Mike back." W. Rayburn also says doctors are attempting to wean M. Rayburn off the ventilator. "Mike can’t fight for himself; he can’t put his story out there, so it’s my duty as his brother to defend him and fight for him," W. Rayburn said. "I believe the citizens of Homer deserve a chief that’s going to be fair and impartial. All I ever wanted from the whole thing was to keep Mike’s medical benefits intact. There’s been several different stories reported – one saying that Mike quit and one saying that Russell terminated him. The town attorney said he was terminated and the mayor said it had to go before the board of selectman (town council). That’s why I went to the meeting on the first (Homer’s Town Council meeting on June 1) to find out what their deal is."... [Full article here]
FUNDRAISER FOR FORMER OFFICER TO BE HELD SATURDAY
The Guardian-Journal
April 22, 2010
[Excerpts] A fundraiser for former Homer Police Officer Mike Rayburn will be held this Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Piggly Wiggly in Homer... Rayburn has had serious medical issues since an incident that changed his life and the lives of his family forever... Since then, medical expenses for Rayburn’s care have multiplied, and his family has struggled to pay those expenses. According to Rayburn’s mother, Pat Rayburn, medical expenses have been astronomical – but she’s never given up on her son. "I’ve been with him 326 days and I’ve never left his side," she said. His physical condition has deteriorated tremendously, and Mrs. Rayburn doesn’t expect her son to live much longer. "He could go any day now," she said. "We’re to that point." But that doesn’t mean the medical bills have gone away, and that’s why the public’s help is needed... [Full article here]
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MOURN THE PASSING OF FORMER POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL RAYBURN
Haynesville, LA
George Vieto
Jun 12, 2010
[Excerpts] KTBS.com reports former Homer Louisiana police officer Michael Rayburn 34, died Thursday mornin... Funeral services will be held for Michael at Bailey Funeral Home Chapel in Haynesville. Michael will be buried at Jolly Cementary. Friends and family who knew Michael describe him as a good natured person who was very helpful with his friends and family alike and that he will be missed dearly. [Full article here]
FORMER HOMER OFFICER PASSES AWAY
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian-Journal
June 17, 2010
Former Homer Police Officer Mike Rayburn, 34, passed away Thursday morning following complications from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Services handled by Bailey Mortuary in Haynesville were held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Rayburn was buried at Jolley Cemetery, near Junction City. Rayburn was born to Mike and Pat Rayburn of Haynesville on June 25, 1975, in Shreveport and was a resident of Haynesville. In addition to his duties as an officer, he was an EMT and a volunteer firefighter. He also enjoyed lock-smithing with his father... He is survived by his parents; his son... step-children... sister... brother... nieces... and nephews... [Full article here]
I come to this site often, I dont know why. Every time I do it feels like ripping the scap from a healing sore and the reality of your loss floods back in. It's amazing how life has changed and the dreams we had as kids seemed to have faded away. Looking back I am so sorry for all the bad things I said to hurt your feelings through the years, even when I was more than unpleasant you still were ever willing to come running when I needed you. It is impossible to describe how very much I miss you and want you home. Your headstone is finally finished, I took forever to get it done as if something would change for the better. It looks good and I think you would like it. I had a laser pic of you put in the middle with a nice quote that says my feelinfs exactly. If tears could build a stairwell, and memories a lane, I would walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.
ReplyDeleteAll my love, Wayne
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI need you right now!!!!
ReplyDeleteWayne
Wayne are you okay? Email me if you want to.
ReplyDeleteI wish you could see Haden.. he's so big and he's so smart. he just turned 7 in October.. he looks so much like you.. I know that my faults are many.. I can never take back what happened and I know nothing will change what happened.. but I want to let it be known by everyone.. you were a wonderful father.. he misses you.. I show him pictures of you.. he loves you.. I'm sorry I didn't do what was right for you or him.. dillon and haeleigh are so grown.. dillon is almost 11 and haeleigh will be 8 in a couple days.. rest in peace. we will meet again
ReplyDeleteHe is truly missed, this man would have given anyone the shirt off his back, he was just an amazing person, I was honored to work with him many times he was there with that extra helping hand I really needed.... I wish that his story will help someone out there he would have wanted that, and to his family Ive told his mom before but was unable to reach other family while I was with him in the ambulance he told me to tell his kids and family he loved them so much....as I watch the helicopter fly away I couldn't hold back the tears, if only somethibg could have been said to stop this from happening, so I am saying it now you are an amazing person and the world will never be the same without no matter how bad you are hurting now everyone will feel this hurt ten times over if you leave us, we need you. I wish I could have said that I wish I hadn't been working when he called, it took every bit of strength I had to sit and wait for someone to tell me I could do something. If you know someone who has the signs of depression or suicide get them help no matter what never ignore or put it off as attention seeking, let his death help someone else to live that's what he would want.
ReplyDeleteYour words are powerful and I'm sharing them with others. May your words be blessed and make a difference so that your brothers death can bring good, not just heartbreak.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!! I love you so much and miss you with every heart beat. Last night, I meet a girl who had attempted suicide on Sunday by taking a nearly lethal combination of prescription drugs, I listened to her story, her feelings, and her reasons of why she did what she did. Finally, after hearing her out, I shared your story, our story. I showed her pictures of you from before the shooting, while you were in the hospital withering away, and finally the end. The tears in both her eyes and mine as I talked about you were tale tell signs that something was getting through to her. I pray that she understands the grief, the untold heartache and the sorrow that ending one's own life brings for those left behind, and helped her realize that her pain is temporary, death is forever. It made me smile to know that even though your gone, your still here. Your with me everyday in every way. I know that your story will continue to help someone and hopefully another person will not ever be lost to suicide again. I do love you Mike, if only I had been able to say those 3 little simple words more often while you were here. I'm sure you know, we weren't raised to show feelings like that, dad never did that for us, but I do it everyday I wake up with my family, I've learned tomorrow may never come. I went to work in November last year at Epps police Dept. I'm the K-9 handler and your old friend Norm is my K-9 trainer. Norm told me recently that the night you died, you came to him in a dream saying that you had to go now, he said you reached down and grabbed his hand and he jerked back making his hand hit him in the chest and that woke him up, he misses you to, we all do. Keep watching over us, and show me, whenever possible, when or where I need to share your story again. Your gone, but your not forgotten. I Love You!
ReplyDeleteand one more time Happy Birthday....I bet your head wld be looking like mine, balding in the center BAD, lol. Wayne
ReplyDelete11 years have come and gone since your death. 11 years seems like a lifetime ago. Mom and dad have been gone 6 years now. I sure miss you guys. More than my simple words can express. Sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming and I just have to let the tears fall. It’s not my place to question God but I find myself doing it anyway. It’s amazing how when we were kids we dreamed of becoming something great and now I’m sitting in my car at 5 AM to be alone for a while and let go. No matter how much time passes, the hurt will feel the same. I’m ashamed to say I found my best coping mechanism is just block out all of that. Pretend your away working and can’t come home. Mom taught me that along time ago. She said that was the only way she found the strength to open her eyes in the morning and start a nee day without you. She was right, it works. I use it for all of you guys just to keep my sanity. I wasn’t able to fall apart when mom and dad died. I had funerals to plan and bills to pay. Maybe that’s why I have to take a minute sometimes and miss y’all. I don’t wanna hurt anymore. I’m so sorry mikie. I wasn’t there when you needed me most and you were always there when I needed you. I’m just so sorry. I love you all so much and miss y’all. -W
ReplyDeleteHaden is 16 now. He is the spitting image of you. He is super smart. And he is very kind and loving. You would be so proud of him.
ReplyDeleteHere ir is, March 25, 2022. You have been gone 11 years now. Mom and dad gone for nearly 7 and it still feels like it just happened. Tears still fall, every time I think of you, mom and dad. I miss ya’ll like crazy. It’s impossible to relate to others whom have not experienced the same loss. I just simply don’t want to discuss you all. In my heart you all live on and will always until I can join you. I sure wish you had met Grayson Michael. He is such a remarkable young man with art abilities at his young age that many would relish. So smart and amazing person. Kaleb has grown up and is now 20 y/o. He remembers you all. I wish Grayson knew you, mom and dad. Sara is doing well and starting 13 years at the police dept. I retired July 15, 2021 ad police chief. It was a great honor and privilege to serve my town as Chief of Police and to retire on my terms with a mayor whom wasn’t so pleasant was indeed an accomplishment. I remain a member of the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association ad Retired. 44 and retired that’s pretty great. I continue to run other business ventures to hopefully set the kids up when they get older and never have to depend on anyone other than themselves. I miss you bro, I love you all. Until we meet again, ALL my love, Wayne.
ReplyDeleteTo the webmaster, if i can donate to keep this site active, please let me know. Wrayburn24@aol.com Thank you.