Masked gunman shoots dead three cops and wounds at least three more in ambush before being killed by officers in Baton Rouge - the city where Alton Sterling's death began wave of anger two weeks ago
- Three police officers dead after at least six cops were shot in Baton Rouge
- A masked gunman was seen firing indiscriminately at cops, a witness said
- Shooter was seen walking down highway with rifle before shooting officers
- Three injured police officers are injured, with one in a critical condition
- A suspect has been shot dead and two others may be at large, police said
- Alton Sterling was pinned down and shot by two white cops 12 days ago
- Gang of four - including boys aged just 12 and 13 - were arrested earlier this week after alleged plot to steal guns and kill cops in Baton Rouge
Three police officers have been killed after at least six were shot by a masked gunman in Baton Rouge - less than two weeks after the killing of Alton Sterling in the same Louisiana city.
The man, who was wearing black, was seen firing indiscriminately at around 9am as he walked out between a shop and a car wash, a witness told WBRZ.
Police received a 911 call reporting a 'suspicious person walking down Airline Highway with an assault rifle', the source said. At least one gunman is said to have opened fire when cops arrived.
A suspect has been shot dead and police say two others may be at large following what appears to have been an ambush.
Three officers have been confirmed dead. Four more have been injured and one is in a critical condition in hospital.
The shooting took place less than a mile from Baton Rouge's police headquarters shortly before 9am.
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Three police officers have been killed after at least six were shot by a masked gunman in Baton Rouge. Pictured, police running at the scene
The man, who was wearing black, was seen firing indiscriminately at around 9am as he walked out between a shop and a car wash, a witness said. Pictured, police at the scene
Police received a 911 call reporting a 'suspicious person walking down Airline Highway with an assault rifle'. Pictured, police at the scene
According to the Advocate, an officer made a report over a police radio at around 8.45am saying that a 'lady who came up and said there was a suspect walking with a ... and an assault rifle out here behind the store'.
Two minutes later, another officer was heard shouting: 'Shots fired, officer down, shots fired, officer down!'
Another yelled: 'Got a city officer down, shots fired! Shots fired on Airline! I don’t know where he’s f***ing shooting from.'
It is not clear if any other officers were injured in the mass shooting.
Police officers were using a robot to inspect the dead suspect's body for explosives.
A spokeswoman for East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said the area remained an active but 'contained' scene. The Airline Highway has been shut down.
'Three law enforcement are confirmed dead, three others injured. One suspect is dead, law enforcement believes two others may be at large,' a statement on East Baton Rouge Police's Facebook page said.
Two of the dead are Baton Rouge police officers, while the third is a sheriff's deputy in East Baton Rouge, an official said. Their identities have not been released.
A video taken by a bystander at the scene captured the panic as gunshots rang out.
Another showed police officers brandishing rifles as they ran towards the scene.
Three officers have been confirmed dead and three more have been injured, with one in a critical condition. Pictured, police at the scene in Baton Rouge
The shooting took place less than a mile from Baton Rouge's police headquarters. Pictured, police on scene
'All we know at this time is that there was a shooting. We believe there were multiple suspects. one suspect is deceased. Multiple officers were shot. We do have some that were killed,' Baton Rouge Police Corporal L'Jean McKneely said.
He also appealed for help tracking down any remaining suspects. 'If they are wearing army fatigues, if they are wearing all black, if they are wearing a mask, if they are wearing anything that's out there, please, give us a call,' he added.
People living in nearby homes have been told to stay indoors.
There were also reports of a shooting at the Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge, but these turned out to be false.
President Obama has been briefed on the situation and has offered any assistance needed, the White House said.
Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump wrote on his Facebook page: 'We grieve for the officers killed in Baton Rouge today.
'How many law enforcement and people have to die because of a lack of leadership in our country? We demand law and order.'
Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump demanded 'law and order' following the shooting
The busy interstate has been completely blocked off in both directions as police continue to invesitgate
Two of the dead are Baton Rouge police officers, while the third is a sheriff's deputy in East Baton Rouge, an official said. Police are pictured blocking off the road
Police rushed to the scene after the man was spotted walking down the highway brandishing a rifle
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said: ‘This is an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us at a time when we need unity and healing.
‘Rest assured, every resource available to the State of Louisiana will be used to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.
‘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.’
Police in Baton Rouge were on high alert earlier this week after a gang - including boys aged just 12 and 13 - were arrested as they tried to steal handguns as part of a 'substantial, credible threat' to harm police officers in Baton Rouge.
Authorities discovered the alleged plot while responding to a burglary at a pawn shop early on June 9.
They arrested one suspect - Antonio Thomas, 17 - at the scene with a handgun and a BB gun.
During questioning, Thomas said that he and three other suspects stole the firearms and 'were going to get bullets to shoot police,' authorities said.
On Tuesday, the chief also confirmed that Thomas told police that 'the reason the burglary was being done was to harm police officers'.
Malik Bridgewater, 20, was also arrested, as were two boys aged 12 and 13. The two named suspects are black.
On high alert: Two hospitals are on lockdown, with police officers checking arrivals at all entrances
Baton Rouge police officers with assault rifles block Airline Highway after three officers were killed
Baton Rouge police block Airline Highway after police officers were shot on Sunday morning
Alton Sterling was shot by two police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 12 days before Sunday's shooting
The shooting comes 12 days after Sterling was shot dead outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge by two police officers.
Sterling was armed but his handgun was in his pocket and the footage does not appear to show him reaching for it.
His shooting on July 5 - and that of Philando Castile in St Paul, Minnesota, the next day - led to nationwide protests over the treatment of black people by the police.
Over the weekend, thousands of people took to the streets in Baton Rouge to condemn Sterling's death, including hundreds of demonstrators who congregated outside the police station.
Authorities arrested about 200 people over the three-day weekend.
A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest days after Sterling's was hijacked by Micah Johnson, who used the demonstration as an opportunity to ambush police, killing five.
Dallas police chief David Brown led the messages of support to police in Baton Rouge following the shooting.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Baton Rouge Police,’ Brown said.
Reverend Al Sharpton added: ‘Praying for the families of the police officers shot in Baton Rouge as we await the full details.
‘This senseless violence really must stop.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3694441/Masked-gunman-shoots-multiple-cops-Baton-Rouge-two-weeks-video-officers-killing-Alton-Sterling-dead-provoked-outrage.html#ixzz4Eh3WqbY6
