Updates On The Baton Rouge Shooting

Multiple police officers were killed during a shooting in Baton Rouge early Sunday morning, according to William Daniel, the city's chief administrative officer. The officers were shot near police headquarters around 9:30 a.m., possibly on Airline Highway, the same street where 37-year-old Alton Sterling was killed during an officer-involved shooting two weeks ago. Another local official told CNN that victims were from Baton Rouge Police Department and East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.

East Baton Rouge Parish mayor-president Kip Holden told CNN that there is an active crime scene now as investigators start to piece together the shooting. "There is still an active scene. They are investigating," said Holden. "Right now we are trying to get our arms around everything."

Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards released a statement via Twitter Sunday morning expressing his condolences for the victims. ""This is an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us at a time when we need unity and healing," wrote Edwards. "Rest assured, every resource available to the State of Lousiana will be used to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice. For now, I'm asking all Louisianans to join Donna and me in praying for the officers who were involved and their families as the details continue to unfold."

Tensions have run high across the nation for the last two weeks after unrest sparked by Sterling's death on July 5. His death was shortly followed by the officer-involved shooting death of Philando Castile, an unarmed black man in Minnesota, and the death of five police officers during an attack at a vigil for Sterling and Castile in Dallas. The motive behind the Baton Rouge shooting is not yet known, but the death of more police officers is an emotional loss for the whole nation that is still coping with the recent tragedies.

12:24 p.m. ET

The Associated Press reported that Louisiana officials confirmed three officers' deaths, as well as three other injuries. A suspect is also dead.

12:29 p.m. ET

East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office spokesperson Casey Hicks confirmed that two more suspects are still at large. Hicks urged the public to call 911 if they see anything suspicious related to the shooting.

12:48 p.m. ET

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center spokesperson Kelly Zimmerman said that the hospital received five patients, all "law enforcement professionals." "Three are deceased, one is in critical condition, one is in fair condition," said Zimmerman.

1:06 p.m. ET

Louisiana State Police issued a Facebook statement confirming that two suspects are at large, and clarifying the area that is currently closed due to the active crime scene. The department wrote:

Three law enforcement officers are confirmed dead, three others injured. One suspect is dead, law enforcement believes two others may be at large. Asking the public if they see anything suspicious please call 911 immediately.

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. Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals.

Please be advised Airline Highway both lanes is currently shut down from Goodwood to Old Hammond. Old Hammond is closed to Tara Boulevard. At this point in time the scene is still active. We are advising the public to please take an alternate route and steer clear of the area. Those in the area are asked to remain indoors and contact law enforcement immediately if they see anything suspicious.

2:05 p.m. ET

Several alleged eyewitness uploaded videos of the shooting to Twitter and Instagram.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, whose own city is currently grieving the loss of five officers during an attack last week, responded to the shooting via Facebook, stating:

Reports out of Baton Rouge this morning of three officers killed and others wounded are deeply disturbing. This must stop. Violence against our police officers under any circumstances is not acceptable and poses a grave threat to all of us. Those peacefully protesting police across the country must swiftly condemn this type of violence against law enforcement.

2:55 p.m. ET

President Obama responded to the Baton Rouge shooting after being briefed on it, and he's clearly exhausted at having to comment on more tragedy in this country.

I condemn, 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. These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law, and on civilized society, and they have to stop.