An early morning shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, left two police officers injured and one suspect mortally wounded.
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When the officers arrived at the scene, the officer and the suspect, identified by his Godsister as 22- year-old Calvin Smith, got into a verbal exchange before the suspect fled the scene in a 2013 Dodge Avenger. The conditions of the officers and the suspect were not known as of 8 a.m.
The second officer received a graze wound to the back of the head and is also listed in stable condition.
Chambers said she does not know where Smith obtained the rifle.
Smith was on probation on a 2014 charge of cruelty to a juvenile, Moore said.
Chambers says Smith attempted suicide several months ago while living in Shreveport and was hospitalized there. The suspect was undergoing surgery at the same area hospital. Two police officers were being treated at the same hospital for gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening. Their conditions were not immediately available.
Terrell Starwood, who was staying at a friend’s house that was close to the scene when he heard sirens, followed by a barrage of gunfire.
The identities of the officers have not been released at this time.
“It clearly shows the officers were attacked and responded appropriately”, Moore said.
“These guys are fortunate to be alive”, Moore said.
Up to 50 shots were fired between the two officers and the suspect. Police units lined the area where the shooting took place, and dozens of markers were placed to flag the location of shell casings and other evidence.
Police say a suspect shot at them with a rifle; Chambers says she didn’t know Smith had a gun. Roads around the shooting scene are closed, police said.
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“People need to understand if they have someone that’s on medication for mental illness, leaving that person alone in a home and expecting that person to take the medication that’s been prescribed is not responsible”, Holden said. The officers returned fire, striking the suspect. “I never in a million years would have thought this would be the outcome I would hear”. The suspect exited his vehicle with a rifle after the chase and fired at the officers, hitting both. Two officers were hit and both were able to return fire, hitting the suspect.
