NU Online News Service, June 8, 8:28 a.m.EST

Two fraud investigators with the state Department of Insurancewere shot and killed June 7 while trying to get information from anagent, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon confirms.

Rhett Jeansonne, an investigator since 2006, and Kim Sledge, an11-year employee of the insurance department, were shot and killedby insurance agent John Melvin Lavergne, who in the pasthad been cited for fraud and ordered to stop operations.

Before turning his gun on himself, Lavergne barricaded himselffor hours inside his Ville Platte, La. agency, Lavergne's InsuranceAgency, while police surrounded the building, state policesay. 

"I have personally spoken to members of Ms. Sledge's and Mr.Jeansonne's families to express my sympathies over this tragic andunnecessary situation," Donelon says in a statement. "My deepestsympathies go out to the loved ones of our two departed colleagues,in particular, the surviving spouses and children of these braveindividuals."

In November 2009 the Department of Insurance issued Lavergne,then 64, a cease and desist order, six-month licensesuspension, and a $16,500 fine for allegedly providing fraudulentproofs of insurance to the Lafayette Department of Motor Vehicleson several occasions.

Lavergne was issued a casualty, property and vehicle physicaldamage license in April 1977 which was valid through April 2011,acording to a statement from the insurance department at the time.Lavergne was also issued a life, accident and healthlicense in May 1973, which was valid through April 2010.