( CNN ) The man suspected of killing a deputy U.S. marshal at a motel in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , has died , Brittany Stewart in the East Baton Rouge Coroner 's Office said Wednesday . The cause of death is pending autopsy , she said . Jamie Croom , 31 , was wounded in a shootout with Deputy U.S . Marshal Josie Wells . It can be one of the most dangerous tasks for a law enforcement officer : serving an arrest warrant to a fugitive murder suspect . When Wells tried to do that Tuesday , he lost his life . `` Wells was part of a team executing arrest warrants on a fugitive wanted for double homicide in Baton Rouge , '' the U.S . Marshals Service said in a news release . `` The team engaged in gunfire with the fugitive and Wells was shot . He was immediately transported to Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary , Louisiana , where he died . '' Wells , 28 , was trying to arrest Croom , who is suspected in the deaths of a brother and sister in New Roads , Louisiana , CNN affiliate WAFB said . `` Our deputies and law enforcement partners face untold dangers every day in the pursuit of justice in cities nationwide , '' said U.S . Marshals Service Director Stacia A. Hylton said in a news release . `` The fugitive who killed Deputy Wells was extremely dangerous , wanted for double homicide and intentionally evaded justice . ... When a public servant dies in the line of duty , it is an immeasurable tragedy felt by all . Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Wells ' family , friends and colleagues . '' Officials would not elaborate on exactly what happened , but The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge said there was a shootout . Authorities said Croom shot and killed Wells at a Baton Rouge motel . Wells , 28 , was based in Mississippi but was on temporary assignment in the Baton Rouge area , the Sun Herald newspaper said . He was married and came from a law enforcement family . Despite the risks , Wells loved his job . `` It was his passion , '' longtime friend Alex McGee told the paper . `` I tipped my hat to him because he knew the dangers and wanted to do the job anyway . '' Croom , the suspect , was taken to a hospital after he was wounded , WAFB said . He was wanted in the shooting deaths of the two siblings in February and was also on probation for firearms charges . That double homicide stemmed from a feud over a loan made to one of the victim 's relatives as well as an alleged break-in at the suspect 's grandmother 's house , Croom 's older sister Latonia Croom Duncan told CNN . Duncan said the family reported threats and a shooting at her grandmother 's house to police , but said there was never any follow-up . She said her brother called her the night of the homicides , which took place at a nightclub . `` He called me and said he loved me and that he 'd be gone , '' Duncan said . `` He said he was n't going back to jail . Before he 'd go back to jail , he said , he 'd rather be dead . '' CNN 's Devon M. Sayers , John Newsome , Sam Stringer and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report .
The fugitive who killed the marshal was `` extremely dangerous , '' U.S . Marshals Service director says . Deputy U.S . Marshal Josie Wells , every day , died after trying to arrest Jamie Croom . `` Before he 'd go back to jail , he said , he 'd rather be dead , '' Croom 's sister says .