Career
Vidrine was shot and killed in broad daylight on the steps of the then Federal court house in downtown Shreveport on December 16, 1986. Cummings stated that Vidrine had threatened him in the past and had reached for a gun when Cummings shot him. When Clyde Vidrine and Kathy Cummings arrived, James Cummings opened fire three times with a 12-gauge shotgun, killing Clyde Vidrine but leaving Kathy Cummings untouched.
This writer commented to two United States DOJ Anti Trust attorney"s at the time that there was "going to be a killing" out there, referring to the loud argument.
The Attorney"s from the Dallas Division ATR office acknowledged having heard the commotion. Later that morning, after the bankruptcy hearing, James Cummings left the Federal Court House ahead of Vidrine and Cummings" estranged wife, crossed the street, and retrieved a 12 gauge shot gun from his vehicle in the presence of his young teenage son.
Cummings fired the 12 gauge shot gun 3 times at Vidrine and dropped him on the steps of the court house. A deputy United States. Marshal returning from lunch apprehended Cummings there and then
With only the morbid sense of humor shared by law enforcement agents, this writer opined that Cummings only had 3 rounds in the shotgun because it was plugged for bird season.
Prior to his death that day, Virdrine was informally interviewed in the court house lobby by the ATR attorneys as they were investigating highway bid rigging at the time, and were invited to visit Vidrine at a future date at his home in Lafayette. Clearly that meeting never took place.
