Three police officers have been killed and three others were wounded in a shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Police responded to reports of a suspicious person armed with an assault rifle on Sunday morning. When police arrived, the gunman opened fire.
One suspect has been shot and killed by police, and two others may be at large, the East Baton Rouge sheriff’s department said.
Mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish Kip Holden said that the suspect is believed to be down as well, but declined to provide further information.
“Everything is moving fast and I have not been able to verify everything,” Holden told CNN.
The shooting unfolded in the area of Airline and Old Hammond highways and roads were closed off in both directions between Goodwood Boulevard and Interstate 12.
One witness told WBRZ-TV that a man was dressed in black with his face covered began randomly shooting as he walked by a convenience store and car wash.
Mark Clements, who lives near the scene, said he heard the shootout in his backyard.
“I heard probably 10 to 12 gunshots go off,” Clements told The New York Times. “We heard a bunch of sirens and choppers and everything since then.”
Airline Highway has been the site of protests following the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling on July 5. Footage of the incident, which showed at least one officer shooting Sterling at point blank range, ignited protests and outrage across the country.
This story is developing, check back for updates.
