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| Three officers killed in Baton Rouge shooting, police department confirms | Three officers killed in Baton Rouge shooting, police department confirms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three police officers have been killed after a gunfight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the East Baton Rouge sheriff’s department said on Sunday. | Three police officers have been killed after a gunfight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the East Baton Rouge sheriff’s department said on Sunday. |
| Related: Baton Rouge: police officers 'feared dead after shooting in Louisiana' - live updates | Related: Baton Rouge: police officers 'feared dead after shooting in Louisiana' - live updates |
| Three other officers were injured, the department said in a statement. One suspect was reported to be dead and officers believed “two others may be at large”. | Three other officers were injured, the department said in a statement. One suspect was reported to be dead and officers believed “two others may be at large”. |
| “At approximately 9am Baton Rouge police officers and East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies were involved in a shooting incident on Airline Highway near Old Hammond Highway,” the department said. | |
| Baton Rouge police corporal L’Jean McKneely has also confirmed “multiple officers were shot, we do have some that were killed” the B-Quick Convenience Store neat the highway. A shootout with police took place in the area of the shopping center, he said, but added: “that’s what I know for sure right now.” | |
| “We’re securing the area with a deceased suspect, a suspect that has been killed. We’re making sure there aren’t any explosives in the area.” | “We’re securing the area with a deceased suspect, a suspect that has been killed. We’re making sure there aren’t any explosives in the area.” |
| McKneely said that police were using a bomb-defusing robot to secure the scene, and that federal law enforcement and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had joined Baton Rouge police and the sheriff’s department. | McKneely said that police were using a bomb-defusing robot to secure the scene, and that federal law enforcement and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had joined Baton Rouge police and the sheriff’s department. |
| Police closed the roads and dozens of officers surrounded the area, live video of the scene showed. | Police closed the roads and dozens of officers surrounded the area, live video of the scene showed. |
| “We are advising the public to please take an alternate route and steer clear of the area,” the department said. “Those in the area are asked to remain indoors and contact law enforcement immediately if they see anything suspicious.” | “We are advising the public to please take an alternate route and steer clear of the area,” the department said. “Those in the area are asked to remain indoors and contact law enforcement immediately if they see anything suspicious.” |
| John Bel Edwards, the governor of Louisiana, called the shooting “an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us”. | John Bel Edwards, the governor of Louisiana, called the shooting “an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us”. |
| As the news broke, Casey Hicks, a spokeswoman for East Baton Rouge sheriff’s office, said: “Law enforcement is working a shooting incident involving officers.” | As the news broke, Casey Hicks, a spokeswoman for East Baton Rouge sheriff’s office, said: “Law enforcement is working a shooting incident involving officers.” |
| Police sergeant Don Coppola told a local station, WAFB, that “several officers were struck by gunfire” but said he did not know “the extent of injury”. | Police sergeant Don Coppola told a local station, WAFB, that “several officers were struck by gunfire” but said he did not know “the extent of injury”. |
| “We are asking everyone to stay away,” Coppola said. “We feel the scene has been contained and we ask individuals to give it some thought.” | “We are asking everyone to stay away,” Coppola said. “We feel the scene has been contained and we ask individuals to give it some thought.” |
| Kip Holden, the mayor-president of East Baton Rouge parish, also called the local network, and said: “There were a number of officers who have been injured, a number have been taken to Our Lady of the Lake hospital.” | Kip Holden, the mayor-president of East Baton Rouge parish, also called the local network, and said: “There were a number of officers who have been injured, a number have been taken to Our Lady of the Lake hospital.” |
| “The situation is still very very fluid,” he said. “We’re trying to find out what happened, which is going to take several more hours. Right now we’re asking citizens to stay away from that area.” | “The situation is still very very fluid,” he said. “We’re trying to find out what happened, which is going to take several more hours. Right now we’re asking citizens to stay away from that area.” |
| He did not immediately return calls from the Guardian. | He did not immediately return calls from the Guardian. |
| Hicks also called the local news station, and said police “believe that the area is contained though it is still active”, and that officers “might possibly still be looking for folks”. | Hicks also called the local news station, and said police “believe that the area is contained though it is still active”, and that officers “might possibly still be looking for folks”. |
| She too urged the public to stay indoors and stay away from Old Hammond Highway and Airline Highway. A spokesperson at the hospital could not say how many officers had been brought to the facility. | She too urged the public to stay indoors and stay away from Old Hammond Highway and Airline Highway. A spokesperson at the hospital could not say how many officers had been brought to the facility. |
| Gunshots were audible from video taken from the scene, near a highway and a car wash, and police cars swarmed with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The Baton Rouge police department did not immediately answer phone calls or emails for more information. | Gunshots were audible from video taken from the scene, near a highway and a car wash, and police cars swarmed with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The Baton Rouge police department did not immediately answer phone calls or emails for more information. |
| Baton Rouge has been racked by tense protests in recent weeks following the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling and then the killings of five police officers in Dallas a few days later. Last weekend thousands protested in the streets of the Louisiana city to condemn Sterling’s death, and police arrested about 200 people over three days. | |
| “Common sense needs to prevail, we need to be the great city that this is,” Holden said. | “Common sense needs to prevail, we need to be the great city that this is,” Holden said. |
| “Rest assured, every resource available to the state of Louisiana will be used to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice,” the governor added in his statement. “For now, I’m asking all Louisianans to join Donna and me in praying for the officers who were involved and their families as the details continue to unfold.” | “Rest assured, every resource available to the state of Louisiana will be used to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice,” the governor added in his statement. “For now, I’m asking all Louisianans to join Donna and me in praying for the officers who were involved and their families as the details continue to unfold.” |