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Baton Rouge: Three US police officers shot dead | Baton Rouge: Three US police officers shot dead |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three police officers have been killed and three injured in a shooting in the southern US city of Baton Rouge. | Three police officers have been killed and three injured in a shooting in the southern US city of Baton Rouge. |
A suspect shot dead at the scene was thought to be the only gunman involved, police said. Reports earlier suggested there was more than one gunman. | A suspect shot dead at the scene was thought to be the only gunman involved, police said. Reports earlier suggested there was more than one gunman. |
President Barack Obama said nothing justified attacks on police officers. | |
It is not clear what the motive is, or whether there is any link to the killing by police of a black man in the city nearly two weeks ago. | |
The shooting of Alton Sterling and another killing of a black man in Minnesota, led to widespread protests across the US. | |
It also triggered a revenge attack by a black army veteran who shot dead five officers in the city of Dallas. | |
Law enforcement officers have converged on a house in Kansas City, Missouri, that is listed for a man named Gavin Long - the man US media named earlier as the suspect in Sunday's Baton Rouge shootings. | |
In a live broadcast from the White House, President Obama called upon all Americans to unite and refrain from divisive language. | |
"Regardless of motive, the death of these three brave officers underscores the danger that police across the country confront every single day, and we as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence against law enforcement," he said. | |
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference it was an "absolutely unspeakable, heinous attack." | Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference it was an "absolutely unspeakable, heinous attack." |
Mobile phone footage from Baton Rouge showed police cars arriving at a road intersection. Several shots were then heard. | Mobile phone footage from Baton Rouge showed police cars arriving at a road intersection. Several shots were then heard. |
Officers were responding to a report of a man carrying a rifle along a major motorway, Colonel Mike Edmonson told a news conference. He said the gunman was dressed all in black. | |
Witnesses reported a man firing indiscriminately. | Witnesses reported a man firing indiscriminately. |
"We believe that the person who shot and killed our officers, that he was the person that was shot and killed at the scene," Col Edmonson said. | "We believe that the person who shot and killed our officers, that he was the person that was shot and killed at the scene," Col Edmonson said. |
US media outlets are naming the gunman as Gavin Long, 29, of Kansas City, Missouri. | US media outlets are naming the gunman as Gavin Long, 29, of Kansas City, Missouri. |
Two of the dead were Baton Rouge police officers and one was an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office deputy. All three were married and had family. | Two of the dead were Baton Rouge police officers and one was an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office deputy. All three were married and had family. |
One of the injured was in a critical condition, while the other two were in a stable condition. | One of the injured was in a critical condition, while the other two were in a stable condition. |
The local sheriff's department spokeswoman told WAFB TV the incident began shortly before 09:00 local time (14:00 GMT). | The local sheriff's department spokeswoman told WAFB TV the incident began shortly before 09:00 local time (14:00 GMT). |
A witness interviewed by the station said the shooting appeared to have broken out before law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. | A witness interviewed by the station said the shooting appeared to have broken out before law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. |
Witness Brady Vancel told WAFB he saw what may have been gang members shooting at each other before police arrived. | Witness Brady Vancel told WAFB he saw what may have been gang members shooting at each other before police arrived. |
Another witness said she saw a gunman wearing a black mask and military-style clothing. | Another witness said she saw a gunman wearing a black mask and military-style clothing. |
Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said he had spoken to White House officials who had offered assistance. He said it was "a defining moment" for community relations. | Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said he had spoken to White House officials who had offered assistance. He said it was "a defining moment" for community relations. |
But he also told local media the "rhetoric from some people" after the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge may be connected to the shootings, without elaborating who. | But he also told local media the "rhetoric from some people" after the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge may be connected to the shootings, without elaborating who. |
"Everything's been anti-police," he said. | "Everything's been anti-police," he said. |