VIDALIA, La. &045; A Concordia Parish sheriff’s deputy was back on duty Wednesday after a grand jury did not return an indictment against him in a Ferriday shooting incident.

The grand jury spent two days hearing testimony this week before deciding Deputy David Hedrick was not guilty of any wrongdoing in the Aug. 23 shooting death of Ron Lollis.

&uot;I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy to the family of Ron Lollis,&uot; District Attorney John Johnson said.

Sheriff Randy Maxwell has said the deputy was responding to a harassment call involving Lollis and Lollis pulled a gun on the deputy. A gun was found at the scene.

Maxwell said Wednesday he is glad the investigation is complete but that he feels &uot;deep compassion and sorrow&uot; for all families involved.

&uot;This incident was thoroughly investigated from top to bottom,&uot; Maxwell said. &uot;The evidence was presented to the grand jury in its entirety. And, although I am pleased the jurors found out our officer was doing his job and protecting himself and the original complainant, it is still tragic that a mother lost a son.

But it’s also been an excruciating ordeal for the officer and his family. This is a policeman’s worst nightmare, that he had to take a life.&uot;

The FBI is also investigating the matter as a civil rights violation but has not released its findings.

Some community members said they believed the shooting was racially motivated. Lollis was black, and Hedrick is white.

&uot;I hate to say this, but there is a small group of people to whom the truth is the last thing they want to believe,&uot; Maxwell said. &uot;They would far rather spread rumors and lies for their own agendas.&uot;