OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY)- A 25-year-old man was shot and killed in Texas after he reportedly stole an unmarked Opelousas Police unit and attempted two armed robberies in Port Arthur, authorities said.

According the Opelousas Police Department, the detective unit, which contained a rifle and body armor, was stolen Tuesday from a Motel 6 parking lot on Interstate 49 as detectives were investigating drug activity inside a hotel room.

The unit was detected traveling west bound on Interstate 10 near Rayne about 20 minutes after it was discovered missing, the department said.

At about 7:15 p.m. in Port Arthur that evening, the Port Arthur Police Department notified Opelousas police that the stolen unit was involved in a shooting in that jurisdiction.

According to OPD Chief Martin McLendon, suspect, identified as Leon Jones III, was involved in two attempted robberies before he was found shot to death in a street.

The first was at a convenience store where Jones reportedly attempted to carjack a man and a woman who were able to flee the scene, police said.

Armed with the OPD-owned rifle, Jones later approached a husband and wife crabbing. According the Port Arthur Police Department, the husband pulled a gun out of their SUV and exchanged shots with Jones.

“It was a very heroic act that man did,” Port Arthur Police Department spokesman Det. Michael Herbert said.

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, Herbert said.

The unit and the OPD officer’s weapon were recovered, authorities said.

This is a developing story.