Baton Rouge shooting: Three police officers dead and several injured

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Last edited Sun Jul 17, 2016, 05:27 PM - Edit history (5)

Source: The Telegraph

Three police officers were shot dead and several others injured after a man dressed in black carrying an assault rifle opened fire in Baton Route, Louisiana.

The incident happened near the Old Hammond area in Baton Rouge.

"One suspect is dead, law enforcement believes two others may be at large," the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said.

One man was reported be walking down the side of a road carrying an assault rifle. Witnesses reported him to police, and when the police arrived on the scene the shootout occurred.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/17/baton-rouge-shooting-officers-feared-dead/

---

Report: Three Baton Rouge police officers shot near BRPD HQ

BATON ROUGE -- Police have closed streets between Baton Rouge Police Headquarters and I-12 where at least three law enforcement officers have been shot.

According to our partners at WBRZ, shots were fired around 9 a.m. Sunday morning kicking off a manhunt for the shooter or shooters.

There is an active shoter situation in the area of Airline and Old Hammond Highways according to The Advocate.

A police spokesperson was not ready to release specifics as of yet.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/report-three-baton-rouge-police-officers-shot-near-brpd-hq/275260120

http://www.cbsnews.com/live/

[Botany]

1. It is the guns end of story

The greater the proliferation of guns the greater the proliferation of gun violence.

I hope all three policemen pull through.

BTW Fuck the NRA.

3 dead

http://ktla.com/2016/07/17/3-baton-rouge-police-feared-dead-in-shooting-scene-active-official-says/

Three police officers are feared dead after a shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish Kip Holden told CNN. “There is still an active scene. They are investigating. Right now we are trying to get our arms around everything. It’s just been one thing after another,” Holden said.

I need to turn off the TV and the internet for awhile .... I just can't take it.

[etherealtruth]

11. + infinity n/t

[SCantiGOP]

30. The truth, +1

[RKP5637]

56. I hope they pull through OK!!!

Following gunner's logic, if only that had had guns this would not have happened.

[Croney]

2. I just called my mother who lives a mile away

and she said they're hearing "seven or eight" shot. I hope that turns out to be false.

[etherealtruth]

12. CNN is now saying 7-8 shot n/t :-(

[trof]

3. On CNN now.

[yeoman6987]

5. We didn't hear police shooting young black men years ago either

The Internet has changed everything.

[lapucelle]

21. The Daily Howler has been covering the news coverage of police shootings.

His perspective is an eye-opener.

http://dailyhowler.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-problems-with-novels-gene-robinson.html
http://dailyhowler.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-problems-with-novels-all-killings.html

[PdxSean]

86. Actually, . . .

Rap music often spoke of police abuse. We chose to ignore the messages and the messengers.

[yeoman6987]

88. Good point!

[840high]

92. Yep

[puffy socks]

104. True

And it was the police that led the crusade to stifle the message.
I think it was Cop Killah that initiated thir rage

[BumRushDaShow]

115. But 10 years before that song

You had a tone shift of Grandmaster Flash that lead to this -

(and the conclusion of the song & video that illustrated what was also amiss)

[Chicago1980]

6. Two fatally.

I'm so sick of this.

[bdwker]

7. And I thought it couldnt get worse.

dumb move

[Yallow]

37. Couldn't Get Worse?

Sorry.

Hate to break it to you......

[bdwker]

41. I guess i'm living in a dream world.

where people get along.

[RKP5637]

57. The US has gone so far astray from what I envisioned it would be in the future when I was a kid.

I find it damn sad and pathetic. And we have jerks like Trump/Pence stirring the pot for even more hatred and discrimination. It's all very sad and sick. If Trump/Pence get in, we're leaving for a new home. The US will be even more violent and frankly a dystopia.

[Javaman]

63. American Idiot - Green Day

Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new mania
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

[RKP5637]

65. Sign me up for the evacuation plane it TP wins! n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

72. I sometimes think....

that the biggest cynics were, at one time, the biggest idealists, but have finally seen enough of life to know better.

[RKP5637]

84. It's likely not going to get better, and we have asses like Trump and Pence anxious and

campaigning to promote even more hatred, division and discrimination in the US.

[awoke_in_2003]

99. The country...

has been coming to a slow boil for 8 years. I am afraid it's going to pop loudly.

[puffy socks]

105. +1 nt

[B2G]

8. CNN: 7 officers shot, 3 dead. nt

[turbinetree]

9. Just in the last 72 hours

http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/last-72-hours?page=1

[Fast Walker 52]

10. fuck, the right has gotten the race war they so desperately wanted

[getagrip_already]

13. and just in time for law and order....

ughhhhh

[Chicago1980]

14. We don't know the race of the shooter or the cops yet,

so let's not make that assumption.

This also doesn't seem to be an ambush like Dallas.

[cstanleytech]

15. Agreed, people need to stop jumping to conclusions. nt

[Sand Rat Expat]

20. At the moment, CNN'S headline is "AMBUSH" in huge capital letters, so... NT

[cstanleytech]

51. That part is probably correct but that doesnt tell us anything about the persons race or their

motive.

[Sand Rat Expat]

55. That's what I was referring to though, the ambush bit.

CNN's now reporting one suspect dead, two others possibly at large.

[oberliner]

75. Yes we do

Black male shooter according to the police.

[Chicago1980]

94. Sigh...

This isn't helping anyone.

[Doctor_J]

111. when an officer shoots a civie we usually assume things

[Igel]

24. Not so sure Malik Shabazz is you're typical RWer.

At times he's like, "People are going to be cops, but we know nothing of them."

At times, "We need to finish the mission of killing all those slave owners and their families, to build our army. Black power! By any means!"

It takes two to tango.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

35. No. Not even close to a war. Can the hyperbole. . . . nt

[democrattotheend]

45. Do we know if the shooters were black?

The article I read didn't mention what race they were.

[MADem]

16. CBS is saying four shot, "at least" two dead.

They say the situation is "contained" in a "stand off" scenario and there is at least one suspect.

TWO hospitals are on lockdown; there is a possibility there might be more than one shooter.

[vkkv]

17. Most guns start off legally owned, but once someone uses a gun illegally - then that

person becomes a criminal.

In other words, legal 'law-abiding' gun owners aren't actually defined as criminals until they shoot someone.. Could be anyone.

[vkkv]

18. Ask yourself: Is being shot by a gun a health issue or a constitutional right?

Have a Republican friend shoot you in the gut, then tell us you don't have any health issues!

Shotgun to the face? "ah, no, I'm feeling fine thanks"

Friends don't let friends vote Republican

[n2doc]

19. The Summer of Lead n/t

[jalan48]

22. This isn't good for Hillary.

Actions like this help law and order candidates like Trump.

[B2G]

23. It's not good for the dead/injured cops either. nt

[jalan48]

26. I agree. I was just pointing out the political ramifications of actions like these.

[Yallow]

40. Trump Said The BLM Protesters Should Be Roughed Up

I guess they don't like being roughed up continuously.

Still don't know race or reasons of shooters.

[jalan48]

43. A race war is a losing proposition. It won't end well.

[Andy823]

25. Seeing how Trump

Is the asshole that started stirring this shit up, I would think he is the one that isn't looking to good right now.

[puffy socks]

107. This has been brewing for a long

while. Trump is definitely stirring the pot however, the police for the most part, have refused to address the issues or even admit there is a problem.
They turned a deaf ear and continued on with the staus quo.
It doesn't make killing them ok, obviously, but there are consequences for their inaction and silence.
There's too little regard for human life.

[Democat]

29. Never miss a chance to take a shot at Clinton?

If anything, things like this make America want a serious candidate, not a joke like Trump.

[jalan48]

33. This isn't a shot at Hillary. It's just an observation.

Actions like these scare people into voting for law and order, conservative candidates. I've seen it happen many times since the 1960's.

[Democat]

34. Just an observation, just concern

Clinton is the Democratic candidate. The other option is Trump.

[jalan48]

48. Do you really think killing police officers is going to help her?

This is bad news for Democrats.

[Democat]

59. Do you think killing police is going to help Trump?

Trump is a joke candidate, he will never be more than that to many Americans.

[jalan48]

66. Of course it will help him.

How is it that a "joke" candidate is doing so well?

[840high]

95. Yes it will.

[Drunken Irishman]

103. Unfortunately, it can help Trump.

It forces people to play to their emotions. There's a reason dictators seem to swell their powers during civil unrest and it's due to fear and anxiety. Look at the Philippines. They just elected a dude who's asking people to kill drug addicts and thiefs. He also made a rapist joke during the campaign and nothing happened, as he won. But he won due to his tough talk and promise to restore law and order. It can happen. I don't think it'll give Trump a win but civil unrest only helps him. Especially when it comes from groups tied to the left.

[treestar]

70. She didn't do it!

LOL. And you make a very broad assumption about other voters when it comes to law and order.

[jalan48]

71. LOL-you're missing the point.

It's how it will be exploited by the Republicans. I don't think killing cops will be viewed as a positive thing by most Americans.

[treestar]

74. I'd love to see how

What does it advantage Republicans with?

[jalan48]

76. Look at our recent election history.

Republican's have used race to win elections. Google Wille Horton to see what Bush Sr. did in 86. Black people killing cops is a godsend for Republicans. What, do you think American's are for this?

[LiberalLovinLug]

97. A proven "broad assumption"

I just posted a new OP from The Atlantic on that very topic. Nixon used it, and now Trump is milking it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512259680

It doesn't seem to matter how inept Republicans actually are at "law and order", Americans have been conditioned to regard them as the 'safe' choice for law and order.

[muriel_volestrangler]

39. Your 'law and order' candidate is due in court to talk about fraud at Trump University

It would help if people didn't unthinkingly accept the label he's given himself to fool gullible people.

[Yallow]

42. The People Backing Trump Are The Ones Robbing The Poor And Not Paying For Their Crimes

And causing all the problems.

Make sure EVERYONE knows this.

[jalan48]

50. You're preaching to the choir.

I'm talking about the "undecided", middle of the road voters who will decide this election. Killing cops and Trump university are light years apart.

[EL34x4]

80. Trump University will not be a factor in this election.

The people most outraged over TU had no intention of ever voting for Trump. Trump's supporters think the whole issue is a giant nothingburger manufactured by the Left. Swing voters don't care one way or the other about Trump University.

[muriel_volestrangler]

93. If you're right, that's depressing, because it's about him screwing the aspirational

Trump claims he wants Americans to be successful, but it's the prime evidence that he sees Americans only as people to fleece for his own personal gain.

If swing voters and Trump voters have such little self-respect that they'll knowingly vote for a conman whose marks were their kind of people, the USA is a bit fucked, not just if Trump gets in, but in general.

[TheCowsCameHome]

47. +1

Her campaign strategists had better get on the ball, quick.

[BeyondGeography]

54. This isn't good for anyone anywhere

[treestar]

69. Many things will happen between now and November

It's funny how every news item is taken to mean terrible things for Hillary.

[maryellen99]

73. And don't forget even if it's bad for Hillary

Trump is too stupid to take advantage of it.

[okasha]

96. This isn't good for anybody.

[jalan48]

100. Yep-and how it plays out politically in November's election?

Don't bet on cop killing to be a plus for your candidate wherever they happen to be on the ballot.

[okasha]

101. Hillary has a plan and has made a commitment

to reducing gun violence. She is prepared to address the problem. Trump doesn't and isn't.

The idea that these massacres are "good" for anyone is obscene.

[jalan48]

102. The killing of cops is a bit more than "gun violence".

It's good for the Republicans because it reinforces negative stereotypes about black people. Fear is a motivator.

[Javaman]

27. just another hour in America. nt

[groundloop]

28. Just now on MSNBC - 4 Dead Officers; 3 Shooters, 1 in custody

Damn what a mess.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

32. Looks like it was a planned ambush

if there were, indeed, multiple shooters.

[Democat]

36. Last time they claimed four shooters

But it turned out to be one.

[spinbaby]

89. That seems to be pretty common

I notice that stories often start out with reports of multiple shooters that turn out to be one shooter.

[Democat]

91. It makes sense in the chaos

And because the media wants to get the most clicks possible.

[Javaman]

58. do you have a link? I'm not reading anything about 4 dead. nt

[mrmpa]

31. I just told my 86 year old mom about this..........

She said "when the fuck are we going to get these guns off the streets"?

[EL34x4]

83. We're not.

That genie is out of the bottle.

200+ million privately owned firearms in America. They aren't going anywhere. Nobody is coming to pick them up.

[SheilaT]

38. Between the tension between police

and civilians, and the ready availability of guns, no one should be very surprised at this. If anything, we should be surprised that someone shooting a bunch of cops isn't happening more often.

We live in a country where the level of violence is astonishing. Our TV shows and movies often show violence (often with guns) as a solution to whatever problems are presented.

[StraightRazor]

49. I was thinking the same thing, especially about Baton Rouge of late...

Everything I've seen coming out of there has been pretty brutal where the actions of the police are concerned. Eventually, in a pressure cooker like that, someone is going to take it too far and something like this happens.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was indeed a planned ambush, which is horrible.

The Feds should be sent in to do the policing for the next month or so, as it seems to me that the BRPD/Sheriff's Office will be unable to be level-headed at all now with regard to protesters, having lost three or four fellow officers...I hope there isn't any more carnage on either side but it sure doesn't seem likely that peace will spontaneously break out.

[UnFettered]

62. Actually

The majority of the pictures of heavy handed handling of protesters were not BRPD or local sheriffs office. They were Louisiana state police.

[StraightRazor]

64. Ah, thanks for the clarification...

I wonder though if that distinction will be made by those on the ground - apparently it was lost on the person or persons on who shot at the police today.

IF that was their justification for the shooting.

[UnFettered]

68. It's hard to tell

We won't know until all the facts about the current situation are clear. It's hard to say what happened with all the conflicting reports.

Baton Rouge is actually a pretty violent city. There were over 70 something murders in a city with way under a million people. I have a better chance of getting killed where I live than almost any county I could travel to. The level of violence in America is astounding.

[StraightRazor]

77. I've only been there once and not long enough to get a real feel for it...

This could very well just be yet other violent episode in a violent place, but from afar (Jersey) it looks like the events could have in some way been inspired by what's been going on of late between law enforcement and the public/protesters.

You are absolutely correct that until the facts are clear we simply won't know, and all we can do is speculate as to what sparked the shootings.

I guess I just hope that whatever the reason ends up being, things don't get worse.

[Sunlei]

44. NRA promoted 'open carry' gave this cop-killer cover

[Democat]

46. So far, it doesn't sound like that is true

One of the articles said the people called police when someone was carrying a gun down the street. That means that "open carry" didn't give anyone cover.

[retrowire]

79. i think they meant "cover"

As in an excuse to openly walk around with a weapon withwithout question.

[rollin74]

52. live police scanner feed for Baton Rouge

http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/23239/web

[Southerncomfy]

53. Some eye witness report that the shooting was going on

PRIOR to the police getting there. Seems like a crime and not a targeting of police

[Democat]

61. It sounds more like they were targeted

Maybe someone was firing a gun to get the attention of police?

[Doctor_J]

112. yet none of them managed to shoot each other, or hit anything until the cops arrived

not all is as it seems

[Legends303]

60. We will have to see the full story come out on this one

Although my hearts go out to the family of the police officers that were killed,
we really need police reforms, now or non-sense such as this is going to keep happening.

Both sides need to come together for it their to finally be peace between communities and police

[Stonepounder]

67. I think I might just 'shelter in place' until November.

I'll have to check how much pea-pod charges.

[retrowire]

78. what im getting from this is

If open carry weren't allowed, it wouldn't have started this particular incident.

[TeddyR]

82. Not an open carry fan

And wouldn't care if it was banned, but the story I heard was that the police were called because this person was carrying a weapon. So not sure that open carry had anything to do with this. But the story is still evolving so we'll see.

[retrowire]

85. well he never would have been called on if he couldnt open carry

That's why I said "this particular incident"

[PersonNumber503602]

98. But even if he couldn't open carry, and he went out with the gun

then the police would have been called.

The only way this could have been prevented is if he didn't decided to go outside with his weapon, and/or he didn't have access to the gun.

[Democat]

90. The police were called as if open carry wasn't allowed

That's what it sounds like from the story so far. If people called the police on someone with a gun, that is not like legal open carry.

[jtuck004]

81. You cannot police a people without their cooperation. Barring that,

it is an occupation. And there will be no peace, and escalating violence, with this occupation.

The Dallas police chief, in suggesting that we add more police, is doing exactly what has been causing the problem, but you can't expect answers or vision that are anything but selfish from people who profit from making bad things bigger. The way of the world.

Ten Lessons for Creating Safety Without Police
Thursday, 14 July 2016 00:00
By Tasha Amezcua, Ejeris Dixon and Che J. Rene Long, Truthout | Op-Ed
How can we create safety collectively? How can we challenge hate and police violence by using community-based strategies rather than relying on the police?

For the past 10 years, the Safe OUTside the System (SOS) Collective -- an anti-violence program led by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two spirit, trans and gender non-conforming (LGBTSTGNC) people of color (POC) in Central Brooklyn, New York, specifically Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and Bushwick neighborhoods -- has been working to answer these questions. After a decade of organizing, the three SOS Coordinators, founding coordinator Ejeris Dixon (2005–2010), the second coordinator Che J. Rene Long (2010–2014), and the current coordinator Tasha Amezcua (2014–present) co-wrote this piece to share the lessons we've learned over the years. We also asked SOS members from the past 10 years about their reflections on our successes, struggles and our hopes for the future. We write these lessons for all the people seeking to address violence and envision safer communities.

—Ejeris, Che and Tasha

1. Cultural work is a crucial organizing strategy. From its onset our members have included activists, organizers, artists and cultural workers (i.e. dancers, musicians, playwrights, actors, singers, poets, performers, artists, healers, etc.) and many people who see themselves at the intersections of these identities. However, it took us time to integrate people's passions, fully utilize each other's skills, and create a collective culture and value system that allowed us all to be seen and heard. We knew that cultural work was necessary to build community, create our vision of safety and make space for healing. Yet we struggled with the question of what our priorities were -- and where cultural work fit into those priorities. SOS members who identified as artists and cultural workers refused to let organizers deprioritize art and healing, and consistently reminded us that cultural work is not a footnote or an addition to make an event more interesting. Instead, these members showed us all that art and cultural work can allow us to vision, strategize, educate, heal and organize with our full selves. Organizing that integrates cultural work transforms people's perspectives in a way that is often deeper and longer lasting than organizing alone. After many meetings and challenging conversations we began to build cultural work into our organizing strategies, events and community-based curriculum. We created a step team to engage and excite new members as an outreach strategy. Our annual Bed-Stuy Pride includes visual artists, performers, healers and vendors to bring our full communities together. This conversation still continues today and not without tension, but we keep growing and learning new ways to communicate across our perspectives and passions.
...

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/36812-10-lessons-for-creating-safety-without-the-police-a-reflection-on-the-10-year-anniversary-of-the-sos-collective

[TeddyR]

87. Some reports that police are in a standoff with a suspect

But no info on location.

[spinbaby]

106. CNN reports a name

Gavin Long, 29 years old

[humbled_opinion]

108. America is disintegrating....

This is only going to lead to police upping their guard ....

[SMC22307]

109. ... along with armed citizens. (n/t)

[Skittles]

110. and people wonder why they dress in armor?

[OnlinePoker]

113. One of the dead with his baby son and something he wrote on 8 July

http://imgur.com/iWF7uNA



Such a waste.

[Skittles]

114. stereotyping sucks, no matter who is doing it

but I see LEO stereotyped on DU a lot