Masked Gunman Kills 3 Police Officers In Baton Rouge

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A masked gunman dressed in black and wearing body armor has died in a shootout with police in Louisiana after killing three law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge on Sunday morning.

According to the East Baton Parish Sheriff’s Office, two of the officers killed were from the Baton Rouge Police Department and one from East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. As many as seven officers were shot, some sustaining injuries.

WWLTV reports:

One suspect is dead, according to the sheriff’s office.

Three officers were also injured — one East Baton Parish Sheriff’s deputy is in critical condition and two with non-life threatening injuries.

“We’re grieving as a law enforcement community,” said Sheriff Sid Gautreaux. “We’re grieving for each other. We’re grieving for our loss and we’re grieving for our families.”

Initially, police reported there were several more suspects at large, but at a later press conference State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson said authorities believed that the lone suspect was shot and killed by responding officers.

“There is not an active shooter scenario in Baton Rouge,” he said. “We do believe, that based on the information that we have — this is ongoing — the person that shot and killed our officers that he is the person shot and killed at the scene.”

“Shots fired. Officer down,” a frantic officer can be heard calling on released audio.

Edmonson said several officers were shot around 8:40 a.m. Four minutes later a second call reported officers down. A call came into police reporting that man, armed with a rifle, walking near Airline Highway and Goodwin Boulevard.

“Baton Rouge Police officers at a convenience store observed the individual. He was wearing all black, standing behind a beauty supply store holding a rifle,” Edmonson said. CBS News reported that suspect wa wearing body armor.

The exchange of gunfire took place between police and the suspect place at Benny’s Car Wash and Oil Change next the B-Quick convenience store by responding officers, where the suspect was shot and killed. The suspect’s identitiy has yet to be released. Police could be seen checking the deceased suspect with a robot for explosives.

“At approximately 9:00 this morning Baton Rouge Police officers and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies were involved in a shooting incident on Airline Highway near Old Hammond Highway. Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals,” said a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Reports of the shooting and possible suspects at large prompted authorities to ask the public to call 911 or local law enforcement agencies immediately if they see anything suspicious and advised people to stay indoors. Now, Edmonson is asking people to stay aware and stay away from the crime scene while police investigate the situation.

During the time when police thought suspects were at large, two hospitals in Baton Rouge were placed on lockdown with police guarding the facilities with officers checking vehicles trying to enter the facility.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, Mayor Kip Holden, Col. Edmonson from State Police, Chief Carl Dabadie of the Baton Rouge Police Department and East Baton Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux all arrived at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where some officers were taken to meet with family members.

Those officials then met with media.

“We want and need your prayers,” said Edmonson.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, Mayor Kip Holden, Col. Edmonson from State Police, Chief Carl Dabadie of the Baton Rouge Police Department and East Baton Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux all arrived at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where some officers were taken to meet with family members.

Those officials then met with media and released. “We want and need your prayers,” said Edmonson.

A witness told WBRZ-TV that a man was dressed in black with his face covered shooting indiscriminately when he walked out between a convenience store and car wash across from Hammond Air Plaza. Police closed the streets between the police department’s headquarters and Interstate 12.

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