Plaisance named Interim Athletic Director at Nicholls
July 13, 2016
Bishop issues call for prayer after Baton Rouge bloodshed
July 18, 2016
Frustration, anger and sorrow are pouring in to Louisiana from throughout the nation in response to the killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge Sunday morning, in an incident officials have not yet characterized, but report as “contained.”
A joint statement by the Louisiana State Police and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office Sunday confirms the deaths and injuries to officers at approximately 9 a.m.
“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,” the statement reads. “Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals.”
Officials have asked that people throughout the state keep an eye open for suspicious activities and that if they see something to report it to authorities.
Initial reports indicatedthat one suspect has been killed and at least two others were being sought, but no descriptions were provided. The Baton Rouge Advocate, followed by other media outlets, reported that the dead gunman was identified as having been from Missouri.
“This is an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us at a time when we need unity and healing,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement issued around 10:30 a.m. Rest assured every resource available to the state of Louisiana will be used to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.”
Edwards has scheduled a news conference for 3 p.m. during which it is expected that further details will be released.
President Barack Obama said that he condemns “in the strongest sense of the word, the attack on law enforcement in Baton Rouge.”
“For the second time in two weeks, police officers who put their lives on the line for ours every day were doing their job when they were killed in a cowardly and reprehensible assault,” Obama said “These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law, and on civilized society, and they have to stop. I’ve offered my full support, and the full support of the federal government, to Governor Edwards, Mayor Holden, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. And make no mistake – justice will be done. We may not yet know the motives for this attack, but I want to be clear: there is no justification for violence against law enforcement. None. These attacks are the work of cowards who speak for no one. They right no wrongs. They advance no causes. The officers in Baton Rouge; the officers in Dallas – they were our fellow Americans, part of our community, part of our country, with people who loved and needed them, and who need us now – all of us – to be at our best.”
According to statements issued to various media outlets by officials, as well as their Twitter feeds, the incident occurred at Old Hammond and Airline highways at a shopping center within the city limits, at a time when tensions are high in Baton Rouge and elsewhere due to a controversial shooting of a black man, Alton Sterling, by officers, captured graphically on video that went viral. The shooting by police of another black man in the Minneapolis, also the subject of a viral video, further galvanized public attention on police –related shootings. Days later five police officers were killed in Dallas, their deaths the result of an ambush by a man described as a crazed gunman. The FBI along with Louisiana State Police are investigating the shooting of Sterllng, which occurred as officers struggled to arrest him outside a convenience store. The state’s capital has been the scene of numerous public protests, marches and rallies.
Although national media have characterized the shooting as an “ambush,” no official statements have confirmed whether that was the case.
Reports from civilians that a person wearing a black mask and carrying an assault rifle prompted one official, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves R-La to say that “to try to separate this from the Alton Sterling shooting would be a stretch at this point.”
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, who has deputies and equipment on standby in case they are needed in Baton Rouge, said in a telephone interview that like everyone else he was not aware of details beyond the confirmation of officer deaths.
“You’re damned right I am angry,” Larpenter said. “I was in church this morning and the word was to preach God all around, but how can you share God with people with hate in their hearts that want to kill people?”
“The media is to blame,” said Larpenter. “We don’t even know the truth of what’s going to happen with this Alton Sterling case. There was an article this morning that said Alton Sterling was murdered. Let’s wait till the Justice Department clears or charges those two police officers.”
Larpenter, along with sheriffs throughout the state, had planned to attend the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association annual conference in Lake Charles this week, but the event was canceled at around 1:30 p.m.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise R-La said he is “heartbroken and angered.”
“The intentional targeting and murder of our law enforcement officers is not justified and must end now,” Scalise said. “We cannot allow anger and violence to tear us apart. It pains me that once again I must implore all Americans, especially in my home state of Louisiana, to commit ourselves to words and deeds that heal and bring peace; that combat lawlessness and promote justice.”
U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany R-Lafayette, said that he and his wife Bridget “are offering our prayers for law enforcement, the medical community, local leaders, and all involved responding to this heinous attack.”
“The people of Louisiana must make clear we will not excuse or explain away hatred and violence against law enforcement – and we will not tolerate those who do,” Boustany said. “These murderers must be brought to justice and given the ultimate punishment under the law. Only a Louisiana that stands united for peace and justice can end this senseless violence.”
