IBERVILLLE — He was 33-years-old, a son, brother, husband, father, and someone who believed deeply in protecting and serving his country and community. Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Riley died in the line of duty on Monday, Oct. 6, when a suspect grabbed a deputy’s gun and shot two deputies inside the Iberville Parish Courthouse. Riley was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.
Funeral arrangements have now been set for Deputy Riley for Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
- Visitation (Open to public) 12pm-3pm at the PACE Center in Gonzales (2824 St. Anthony Ave.)
- Service (Open to public) 3pm at the PACE Center in Gonzales
MORE: Deputy killed after shooting at Iberville Courthouse | Suspect shot dead
Riley’s life of service began with the United States Navy. Later, inspired in part by his cousin, an officer with the Gonzales Police Department, Riley developed a strong interest in law enforcement. He joined GPD as a reserve officer under Chief Sherman Jackson in 2018.
“He actually started his career off with us,” Chief Jackson told UWK. “He was a patrol officer with our reserve program. They’re not allowed to ride alone, so they’re paired with a more experienced officer, but he was a good kid. Everyone I know spoke highly of him. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any full-time openings at the time, so he left to join the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office.”
At IPSO, Riley worked the East Iberville area, the St. Gabriel side of the parish, since the Mississippi River divides the jurisdiction.
“He was happy. He had a great smile. He wanted to be a police officer,” Chief Jackson said. “I’m saddened. It’s never a good situation. Law enforcement is a small community, a brotherhood and sisterhood, and that makes it harder when you actually know the individual. He gave his life to protect and serve, and that’s part of what we do. My heart goes out to his family, his two little girls, and I’ll be praying for them.”
One of the officers Riley rode with during his time as a reserve was GPD Officer Duane Carpenter.
“I’ve known Charles since he was a young kid because his cousin works with us at the department. We called him Charlie. I knew him when he served in the Navy, and when he came back, he joined us as a reserve. He wanted to go full-time, but there weren’t any openings, so he stayed with us as a reserve for about two to two and a half years before going to Iberville,” Carpenter said.
Like Chief Jackson, Carpenter remembers Riley as someone who was always upbeat and brought positivity to those around him.
“He was always smiling, always happy,” Carpenter told UWK. “He rode with me a few times in my unit, and he could always make people laugh and turn a bad day into a good one.”
Carpenter said he learned of Riley’s death early Tuesday morning while getting ready for work.
“Anytime a cop gets killed, it’s a tough pill to swallow. But this one hit home, just personally knowing him and having him ride in my car. It’s a different feeling.”
Deputy Charles Riley leaves behind a wife, three children, his parents and siblings.
Donations for the Riley family can be made through Behind The Line, a Louisiana non-profit organization in support of the families of first responders who are injured or killed in duty.
Checks can be mailed to
P.O. Box 2490
Denham Springs, LA, 70727
Or you can donate online.
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