Two Baton Rouge police officers were shot early Saturday morning on the 5600 block of Fairfields Avenue.
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The suspect was also taken to a hospital where he was in stable condition and undergoing surgery. Another officer suffered a “graze” wound to his head and is listed in stable condition.
According to police, 22-year-old Calvin Smith died last night at a local hospital.
No information was immediately available Saturday about the type of weapon Smith used, but a witness reported hearing multiple shots fired in rapid succession.
“Both of these officers were very fortunate to survive this encounter”, Moore said. She said Smith had attempted suicide a few months ago in Shreveport and that he had been admitted for treatment at some point while living there.
Police say Smith led them on a roughly 2 mile chase after 5:30 a.m. Saturday before firing at them with a rifle. At least one officer was wearing a body camera.
Gina Chambers of Baton Rouge says Smith, the son of her godmother, was hospitalized in Shreveport previous year after a suicide attempt. Dozens of evidence markers were on the ground at the house where the chase ended, indicating possible bullet casings.
Baton Rouge police spokesman Lt. Jonny Dunnam said the shooter was in critical condition after surgery. She said Smith had been living at her Baton Rouge home since December. There was a pause and then a flurry of gunshots afterward, according to Walker.
“We will wait for (the Police Department’s) reports but also independently listen to all the witnesses and look at the evidence”, Moore said.
The shooter who opened fire on two policemen Saturday morning is now on probation on a 2014 charge of cruelty to a juvenile in East Baton Rouge, said Hillar C. Moore III, East Baton Rouge District Attorney.
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Coppola said the officers would be placed on paid leave, as is standard in shootings in Baton Rouge. “I didn’t hear nothing but sirens, gunshots and tires squealing”.
