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On March 16, 1984, at the Baton Rouge airport, live news cameras captured one of the most shocking moments in American history.
As a handcuffed man stepped off a plane, a father waiting by the payphones pulled out a revolver and shot him in the head.
That father was Gary Plauché. The man he killed was Jeff Doucet, the karate instructor who had kidnapped and abused his 11-year-old son, Jody.
This is the story behind the infamous Gary Plauché airport shooting—and why many Americans still debate whether he was a criminal or a hero.
Who Was Gary Plauché?
Gary Plauché was a quiet, soft-spoken salesman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Friends described him as dependable and kind, and above all, a devoted father of four.
But in 1984, his life took a devastating turn.
Who Was Jeff Doucet?
In 1983, Gary’s son, Jody, joined a local karate class taught by 25-year-old Jeff Doucet.
At first, Doucet appeared to be a mentor—offering rides, extra lessons, and spending time with the Plauché family. But behind closed doors, he was grooming and abusing Jody.
On February 19, 1984, Doucet kidnapped the 11-year-old boy and vanished.
The Kidnapping of Jody Plauché
Doucet drove Jody across state lines to a motel in Anaheim, California, where the abuse continued.
For nearly a week, the FBI and local police searched desperately. The breakthrough came when Doucet allowed Jody to place a collect call to his mother. That call led authorities straight to their location.
Jody was rescued. Doucet was arrested. And the horrifying truth came to light.
Why Did Gary Plauché Kill Jeff Doucet?
When Gary learned what had been done to his son, his grief turned into rage. Then rage turned into a plan.
Through a tip from a local TV station, Gary discovered the exact time Doucet would be escorted through the Baton Rouge airport.
On March 16, 1984, disguised in a baseball cap and sunglasses, Gary waited by a row of payphones.
When Doucet walked past, Gary raised a .38 caliber revolver and fired a single bullet into his head.
The Airport Shooting on Live TV
The shocking moment was captured by news cameras from WBRZ-TV.
Doucet collapsed, bleeding from the head, as officers restrained Gary and confiscated the gun.
To millions watching, Gary wasn’t a cold-blooded killer. He was a father pushed beyond his limits.
What Happened to Gary Plauché After the Shooting?
Gary was charged with second-degree murder. But in a highly unusual outcome, he never served prison time.
Instead, he pleaded no contest to manslaughter and received:
• A 7-year suspended sentence
• 5 years of probation
• 300 hours of community service
The case sparked national debate: Was Gary Plauché a murderer, or a father delivering justice?
What Happened to Jody Plauché?
At first, Jody was angry at his father—because, despite the abuse, he had seen Doucet as a trusted figure.
But with time, he came to understand Gary’s actions.
As an adult, Jody became a powerful advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. He served on the board of Men Against Violence at Louisiana State University and later worked as a sexual assault counselor.
In 2007, he released a book about his experience, detailing the trauma, recovery, and the complicated love for a father who took revenge.
Did Gary Plauché Regret Killing Jeff Doucet?
Gary Plauché lived quietly after the shooting, raising his family and avoiding the spotlight.
In interviews, he made it clear that he never regretted what he did.
“If I had to, I would do it all over again,” he said shortly before his death in 2014.
In a 2024 interview with the Mirror, Jody called his father “the greatest dad of all time” and said he was at peace with how his life turned out.
The Legacy of the Gary Plauché Airport Shooting
The Gary Plauché shooting remains one of the most infamous cases of vigilante justice in American history.
To some, Gary was a grieving father who took justice into his own hands. To others, his actions blurred the line between justice and vengeance.
But for Jody, the boy at the center of it all, his father’s love—and the lengths he went to protect him—defined his legacy.
