Police officers block off a road after a shooting of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Reuters Photo)
Three police officers were killed and three injured in a shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday, police said.
“One suspect is dead, law enforcement believes two others may be at large,” the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The officers were taken to a local hospital, spokesman Sergeant Don Coppola said the local CBS affiliate, adding he did not know the extent of their injuries. Sheriff’s deputies may have also been involved.
The shooter was identified as Gavin Long, was found to have briefly attended University of Alabama.
Read | Baton Rouge shooting: US is shocked, pained
President Barack Obama condemned the attacks.
“We may not yet know the motives for this attack, but I want to be clear: There is no justification for violence against law enforcement. None. These attacks are the work of cowards who speak for no one,” he said in a statement.
The reports come a week after a wave of protests against police violence in Baton Rouge and other cities after a 37-year-old father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. At one of the demonstrations in Dallas, a gunman opened fire on white officers assigned to the protest, killing five of them.
Read | Baton Rouge: Donald Trump blames police shooting on ‘lack of leadership’
Hillary Clinton also condemned the attacks, calling them ‘devastating’.
“There is no justification for violence, for hate, for attacks on men and women who put their lives on the line every day in service of our families and communities,” she said in a statement.
Live Updates (IST)
4:27 AM: Gunman who fatally shot 3 officers in Baton Rouge briefly attended University of Alabama.
3:51 AM: Law enforcement converges on Kansas City, Missouri, house listed for Gavin Long after Baton Rouge police shooting, reports AP.
2:52 AM: “We must all stand together to reject violence and strengthen our communities”, says Hillary Clinton.
2:51 AM: Gunman identified as Gavin Long, reports Reuters.
Read | Baton Rouge: Gavin Long identified as shooter by authorities, says source
2:46 am: Obama says attacks like shooting of Baton Rouge police happening far too often, calls on Americans to avoid divisive rhetoric.
2:26 AM: Louisiana police say suspect killed was sole shooter, but they are “not ready to say” he acted alone. 2 “persons of interest” in the killing of 3 police officers have been detained near Baton Rouge, reports AP.
1:47 AM: Louisiana state police say the person who shot and killed 3 officers in Baton Rouge was shot and killed at the scene, reports AP.
1:39 AM: Louisiana state police say there is “no active shooter” in Baton Rouge, reports AP.
12:24 AM: Barack Obama condemns attack on Baton Rouge police ‘in the strongest sense of the word’; says attacks on ‘public servants’ have to stop, reports AP.
11:15 PM: Donald Trump blames Baton Rouge shooting on ‘lack of leadership’
10:04 PM Police checking for explosives with robot: Spokesman
10:02 PM One suspect dead, Police tells MSNBC
9:35 PM “The scene seems to be contained right now,” Baton Rouge police spokesman Don Coppola told television station WAFB.
9:34 PM Three officers dead, Mayors says on NBC
9:23 PM
“No protest whatsoever” was taking place when officers were ambushed about a mile from police HQ, Baton Rouge mayor tells @MSNBC.
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) July 17, 2016
9:20 PM
Law enforcement official tells @CBSNews as many as 7 Baton Rouge officers have been shot; 2 are dead. Search for possible suspects underway.
— Josh Elliott (@JoshElliott32) July 17, 2016
9:17 PM Police have still not taken the shooter into custody
9:17 PM: Locals warned to stay away from the scene
9:15 PM: Two US police officers dead
