Louisiana police say at least three officers have been killed after a shooting in Baton Rouge. As details of the attack emerge, here鈥檚 what we know so far.
At least three police officers have been killed and three others are injured. The slain officers have been identified as Montrell Jackson, 32, Matthew Gerald, 41, and Brad Garafola, 45. Of the three officers in hospital, one was in critical condition, one was in fair condition and another was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries on Sunday, according to a hospital spokesperson.
One male suspect is dead. According to the Associated Press, a law enforcement official close to the case identified the shooter as Gavin Long, but provided no further details on his identity. Police are still searching for at least two other suspects who are believed to be at large, and officials say it鈥檚 possible that there could be other suspects involved.
Two 鈥減ersons of interest鈥� have been detained. A police spokesperson said the pair was detained near Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon, but the spokesperson did not immediately provide details of a connection to the shooting.
The city is on high alert. Around 12:30 p.m. ET, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff鈥檚 Office described the scene as 鈥渁ctive鈥� and advised the public to steer clear of the area and call 911 if they see anything suspicious.
The shooting occurred at a gas station close to Baton Rouge Police headquarters. Shots were first reported around 9 a.m. on Sunday at a gas station less than two kilometres from the local police station. Police believe the shooting occurred outside (and possibly inside) a B-Quik convenience store on Airline Highway. The suspect鈥檚 body was found outside a nearby fitness centre, police said.
A motive has not been determined. Police said they are still working to confirm what led to the shooting, but it is believed there was an exchange of gunfire.
A police robot searched the scene for bombs as a precaution. A police spokesperson said that investigators had no indication that a bomb was present, but a specialized robot was sent in to clear the area for safety purposes.
It鈥檚 unclear how the suspect died. Asked if the deceased suspect was shot by police, a police spokesperson said 鈥淚 believe so鈥� but said he could not conclusively confirm how the suspect died.
The shooting comes amid high tensions in Baton Rouge and across the U.S. Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed by police in Baton Rouge less than two weeks ago. The next day, Minnesota man Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer while driving with his girlfriend. Cellphone videos of both killings were widely circulated online and fuelled conflicts between law enforcement and communities across the United States. Two days after Sterling鈥檚 death, a protest in Dallas against the recent spate of violence turned deadly when a gunman opened fire and killed five police officers. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
The Louisiana governor has visited victims in hospital. A spokesperson for Gov. John Bel Edwards told the Associated Press that the politician was in hospital on Sunday meeting with wounded police officers and their families.
With files from the Associated Press
