Three officers dead, others injured in Baton Rouge shooting
Thanh Truong talks about the timeline of events Sunday morning in Baton Rouge where three officers lost their lives.
Guard outside Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Photo via Hilary Schenuk, The Advocate.
BATON ROUGE – Three law enforcement officers – two from the Baton Rouge Police Department and one from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office – have been killed after six were shot in Baton Rouge Sunday morning, according to authorities from the East Baton Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The lone suspected shooter is dead, according to Louisiana State Police.
Three officers were also injured — one East Baton Parish Sheriff’s deputy is in critical condition and two have non-life menacing injuries.
“We’re grieving as a law enforcement community,” said East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux. “We’re grieving for each other. We’re grieving for our loss and we’re grieving for our families.”
“This is truly a sad day in Baton Rouge,” said Kip Holden, the city’s mayor-president said.
The three deceased officers were identified as Baton Rouge Police officers Matthew Gerald, 41, of Denham Springs, Montrell Jackson, 32, and Brad Garafola, 45, of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.
President Barack Obama decried the incident, telling that it was just five days earlier that he attended a memorial for five Dallas Police officers who were slain by a gunman. “We as a nation have to be noisy and clear that nothing justifies an attack on law enforcement,” he said.
Originally, police reported there were several more suspects at large, but at a later press conference State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson said authorities believed that the lone suspect was shot and killed by responding officers.
A witness said Eugene was clad in all black and wearing tactical gear, a ski mask and had extra magazine clips.
“There is not an active shooter script in Baton Rouge,” he said during an afternoon press briefing. “We do believe, that based on the information that we have . the person that shot and killed our officers that he is the person shot and killed at the scene.”
“Shots fired. Officer down,” a frantic officer can be heard calling on released audio.
Edmonson said several officers were shot around 8:40 a.m. Four minutes later a 2nd call reported the officers were down. A call came into police reporting that a man, armed with a rifle, was walking near Airline Highway and Goodwin Boulevard.
“Baton Rouge Police officers at a convenience store observed the individual. He was wearing all black, standing behind a beauty supply store holding a rifle,” Edmonson said. CBS News reported that the suspect was wearing figure armor.
The exchange of gunfire took place inbetween police and the suspect place at Benny’s Car Wash and Oil Switch next to the B-Quick convenience store by responding officers, where the suspect was shot and killed. Police could be seen checking the deceased suspect with a robot for explosives.
“At approximately 9:00 this morning Baton Rouge Police officers and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies were involved in a shooting incident on Airline Highway near Old Hammond Highway. Numerous officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals,” said the initial statement from the sheriff’s office.
Reports of the shooting and possible suspects at large prompted authorities to ask the public to call nine hundred eleven or local law enforcement agencies instantly if they eyed anything suspicious and advised people to stay indoors. Edmonson is now asking people to stay aware and stay away from the crime scene while police investigated the situation.
During the time when police thought suspects were at large, two hospitals in Baton Rouge were placed on lockdown with police guarding the facilities and officers checking vehicles attempting to inject the facility.
Around noon, Gov. John Bel Edwards, Holden, Col. Edmonson from State Police, Chief Carl Dabadie of the Baton Rouge Police Department and Sheriff Gautreaux all arrived at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where some officers were taken to meet with family members. Those officials then met with media.
“We want and need your prayers,” said Edmonson. “Baton Rouge is need of your prayers right now. “
A witness told WBRZ-TV that a man was dressed in black with his face covered shooting indiscriminately when he walked out inbetween a convenience store and car wash across from Hammond Air Plaza. Police closed the streets inbetween the police department`s headquarters and Interstate twelve .
Holden asked for prayers for the officers and their families.
Gov. Edwards issued a statement on the attack.”This is an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us at a time when we need unity and healing,” he said.
“To me this is not so much about gun control as it is about what’s in studs’s hearts,” said Gautreaux.