UPDATED: State police: Authorities shot suspect after carjack attempt in Berwick

Staff Report
The man shot and killed by law enforcement officers Tuesday in Berwick was attempting a carjacking, according to the preliminary investigation by Louisiana State Police.
State police identified the man as Robert Pearce, 37, of New Iberia.
The man carried what turned out to be a BB gun, according to the preliminary state police investigation.
According to the investigation by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations, which was requested by the Berwick Police Department, Berwick officers and St. Mary Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to a suspicious person report about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The subject, later identified as Pearce, fled on contact with law enforcement, which led to a foot pursuit.
Pearce then attempted to carjack a female motorist while armed with what appeared to be a handgun near Sixth and Utah streets, according to a state police press release.
As Pearce made entry into the female motorist’s vehicle with the weapon, responding law enforcement personnel discharged their service weapons, striking Pearce.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Mary Parish Coroner’s Office.
No other injuries were reported. Louisiana State Police Crime Lab processed the scene for all evidence.
Louisiana State Police is the lead investigating agency. This is an active investigation and information will be released as the investigative process continues, state police said.
A Facebook post by Pearce said he moved to New Iberia from Grand Rapids, Michigan, this year. The post said he is single and has been unemployed since March.
His last public post on Facebook was March 24: “Goodmorning everybody….be blessed…through the will of God…..”