Louisiana police lieutenant and father of 3 dies of COVID-19 the day before his wedding

Demarcus Dunn, a police lieutenant and community mentor in Baker, Louisiana, died of COVID-19 a day before his wedding.

Lt. Dunn, 36, succumbed to the virus on August 13, leaving behind three children aged 1, 5 and 13, said Baker Police Chief Carl Dunn, who is also a cousin of Lt. Dunn. .

Lt. Dunn and his fiancee were originally scheduled to tie the knot in July 2020, but have postponed the ceremony until August 14 due to the pandemic, Carl Dunn told ABC News.

“She’s lost without him,” Carl Dunn said.

Lt. Dunn was an Air Force veteran who spent his spare time training and mentoring local children, the chief said. For Lt. Dunn, it was personal – his father was killed as a child and all of his positive male role models were coaches, so he felt responsible for giving back, the chief said.

“He just wanted to be still in those kids’ lives and make a positive impact,” said Carl Dunn. “His fiancée, she really understood that was where his heart was and that’s what satisfied him – giving back.”

On July 29, Lt. Dunn told the chief he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Lt. Dunn was not vaccinated, Carl Dunn said, adding that his cousin had not told him why he chose not to be vaccinated and that it was not a requirement for the police department.

“It was disturbing to me that he didn’t understand it [the vaccine] and I didn’t know for sure that he hadn’t figured it out until it was all over, ”said Carl Dunn.

Lieutenant Dunn’s symptoms were cough, headache and difficulty breathing at first, but Carl Dunn said he spoke to him “every day and always looked upbeat”.

“Even the day he went on a ventilator, I spoke to him that morning, and he told me he didn’t feel bad,” the chief said.

Lt. Dunn used a ventilator on August 10 and never got out of it, leaving Carl Dunn in shock.

“I know he was a fighter and he had a strong will,” he said. “I kept telling myself that he was going to be okay and I continued to assure the family that I knew he was going to be okay.”

Baker Mayor Darnell Waites said in a statement: “My heart has been heavy since I learned of Demarcus Dunn’s passing.”

“He was a father, husband, soldier, mentor, friend and veteran of the Baker police force – a man loved by all,” Waites said. “Her dedicated life in the service of others was a shining example for our community.”

Carl Dunn added, “We have lost a wonderful person and a wonderful servant to the community. He felt he was responsible. He wanted to be the one to bring about positive change.”