New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the US-Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana late on Thursday, hours after the region's oil production was cut by half as energy companies evacuated offshore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery.

Tropical Storm Barry was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km/hour) early on Friday.

Authorities were keeping a watchful eye on the levee system built to contain flooding along the lower Mississippi River, which winds through the heart of New Orleans and has been running above flood stage for the past six months.

Barry was forecast to bring a coastal storm surge into the mouth of the river that could push its crest to 19 feet (5.9 m) on Saturday - a foot lower than initially predicted but still the highest level since 1950 and dangerously close to the top of the city's levees.

Meteorologists predicted between 10 and 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain along much of the Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday.

The brunt of the storm was expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans instead of making a direct hit. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that the city had not ordered any voluntary or mandatory evacuations, but added that 48 hours of heavy downpours could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water in the low-lying city.

Pumps were already working at capacity after heavy rains flooded streets on Wednesday, she said.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards warned: "The more information we get, the more concerned we are that this is going to be an extreme rain event."

Officials for the US&nbsp;Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the levees, insisted no significant breaching of the 20-foot-tall levees in New Orleans was likely.

Some residents, recalling the deadly, devastating floods unleashed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, said they were determined to get out of harm's way.

"It's really the river that has us worried," said Betsey Hazard, who lives with her husband, Jack, and their two young children a block from the Mississippi River. She said the family was packing up and heading for the neighboring state of Mississippi to ride out the storm.

"They say that the river won't flood in New Orleans, but we have a 5-year-old and a 10-month-old, and we don't want to take any chances."

Others flocked to supermarkets for bottled water, ice, snack foods and beer, thronging grocery outlets in such numbers that some stores ran out of shopping carts.

Throughout the city, motorists left cars parked on the raised median strips of roadways in hopes the extra elevation would protect them from flood damage.

A tropical storm warning was posted on Thursday afternoon for metropolitan New Orleans, and a hurricane warning for a stretch of the Louisiana coast south of the city.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas of Plaquemines Parish beyond the levees southeast of the city, and for low-lying communities in Jefferson Parish, to the southwest.

Barry will be classified a hurricane once sustained winds hit 74 mph (119 km), which could occur late on Friday or early on Saturday when its center is expected to be near the Louisiana shoreline, the National Weather Service said. Weakening is expected after Barry moves inland.

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the US-Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the US-Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019. US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana late on Thursday, hours after the region's oil production was cut by half as energy companies evacuated offshore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery. Tropical Storm Barry was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km/hour) early on Friday. Authorities were keeping a watchful eye on the levee system built to contain flooding along the lower Mississippi River, which winds through the heart of New Orleans and has been running above flood stage for the past six months. Barry was forecast to bring a coastal storm surge into the mouth of the river that could push its crest to 19 feet (5.9 m) on Saturday - a foot lower than initially predicted but still the highest level since 1950 and dangerously close to the top of the city's levees. Meteorologists predicted between 10 and 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain along much of the Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday. The brunt of the storm was expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans instead of making a direct hit. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that the city had not ordered any voluntary or mandatory evacuations, but added that 48 hours of heavy downpours could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water in the low-lying city. Pumps were already working at capacity after heavy rains flooded streets on Wednesday, she said. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards warned: "The more information we get, the more concerned we are that this is going to be an extreme rain event." Officials for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the levees, insisted no significant breaching of the 20-foot-tall levees in New Orleans was likely. Some residents, recalling the deadly, devastating floods unleashed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, said they were determined to get out of harm's way. "It's really the river that has us worried," said Betsey Hazard, who lives with her husband, Jack, and their two young children a block from the Mississippi River. She said the family was packing up and heading for the neighboring state of Mississippi to ride out the storm. "They say that the river won't flood in New Orleans, but we have a 5-year-old and a 10-month-old, and we don't want to take any chances." Others flocked to supermarkets for bottled water, ice, snack foods and beer, thronging grocery outlets in such numbers that some stores ran out of shopping carts. Throughout the city, motorists left cars parked on the raised median strips of roadways in hopes the extra elevation would protect them from flood damage. A tropical storm warning was posted on Thursday afternoon for metropolitan New Orleans, and a hurricane warning for a stretch of the Louisiana coast south of the city. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas of Plaquemines Parish beyond the levees southeast of the city, and for low-lying communities in Jefferson Parish, to the southwest. Barry will be classified a hurricane once sustained winds hit 74 mph (119 km), which could occur late on Friday or early on Saturday when its center is expected to be near the Louisiana shoreline, the National Weather Service said. Weakening is expected after Barry moves inland.

New Orleans braces for flooding, Trump declares emergency ahead of Storm Barry

Tropical <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-rise-over-storm-barry-middle-east-tensions-235170">storm Barry</a> could strengthen into a hurricane by Friday night or early Saturday when the centre is near the coast of Louisiana, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-attorney-general-william-barr-recuses-himself-from-boeing-737-max-probe-justice-department-235216">US</a> National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The storm, about 140 miles (220 km) southeast of Morgan City, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heavy-rains-flood-new-orleans-streets-forecasters-predict-hurricane-234833">Louisiana</a>, is packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km per hour), the NHC said.

"Dangerous storm surge, heavy rains, and wind conditions are expected across the north-central Gulf Coast," the Miami-based weather forecaster added.

Meteorologists predicted between 10 and 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain along much of the Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/storm-barry-bears-down-on-new-orleans-with-extreme-rainfall-flooding-risk-235208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell warned that 48 hours of heavy rain could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water in the low-lying city.

A tropical storm warning was posted on Thursday afternoon for metropolitan New Orleans, and a hurricane warning for a stretch of the Louisiana coast south of the city. The weather service later reported winds increasing to 45 mph (72 kph), with higher gusts.

The storm swiftly disrupted oil and gas operations along the Gulf, as energy companies halted production on more than half of the region's petroleum output and evacuated nearly 200 offshore facilities and a coastal refinery.

With the brunt of the storm expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans instead of making a direct hit, city officials ordered evacuations.

Tropical storm Barry could strengthen into a hurricane by Friday night or early Saturday when the centre is near the coast of Louisiana, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Tropical storm Barry could strengthen into a hurricane by Friday night or early Saturday when the centre is near the coast of Louisiana, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The storm, about 140 miles (220 km) southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana, is packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km per hour), the NHC said. "Dangerous storm surge, heavy rains, and wind conditions are expected across the north-central Gulf Coast," the Miami-based weather forecaster added. Meteorologists predicted between 10 and 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain along much of the Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday. Watch Video: New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell warned that 48 hours of heavy rain could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water in the low-lying city. A tropical storm warning was posted on Thursday afternoon for metropolitan New Orleans, and a hurricane warning for a stretch of the Louisiana coast south of the city. The weather service later reported winds increasing to 45 mph (72 kph), with higher gusts. The storm swiftly disrupted oil and gas operations along the Gulf, as energy companies halted production on more than half of the region's petroleum output and evacuated nearly 200 offshore facilities and a coastal refinery. With the brunt of the storm expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans instead of making a direct hit, city officials ordered evacuations.

Tropical Storm Barry to hit Louisiana may develop into hurricane: US weather forecaster

A potential tropical storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico presents twin troubles for parts of south-east Louisiana: the possibility that a high Mississippi River will be lapping at the tops of levees this weekend and a danger of flash floods like the one that hit New Orleans on Wednesday.

Today Tonight: Louisiana storm brings twin threat of rising river and flash floods

New Orleans residents braces for flooded streets as harsh weather conditions hit the city. Louisiana declares flood emergency in Louisiana across the state as it prepares for a storm which might become hurricane.

Severe storms trigger flood emergency in Louisiana

Authorities in Louisiana and Mississippi rescued people from their homes after heavy rains this weekend caused major flooding in the region.

Heavy rains in southern US leave some trapped

A powerful spring storm pummeled the US Midwest and Plains on Saturday with blizzard conditions and high winds, while tornadoes and thunderstorms menaced some of the South.

Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota were under warnings for blizzard-like conditions. The city of St&nbspPaul, Minnesota, declared a snow emergency.

Forecasters were expecting more than a foot (30 cm) of snow in parts of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Wind gusts around Duluth, Minnesota, had exceeded 50 miles (80 km) per hour, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

"Mother nature continues to troll us," the agency's office serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul region said on Twitter, posting a video of snow falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches (2 to 5 cm) per hour.

As the storm pushed south into Saturday evening, authorities warned that severe thunderstorms could bring gusting winds, flooding and hail. Severe weather warnings extended from Texas to central Alabama, which was under a tornado watch.

At least one tornado packing winds up to 90 miles (145 km) per hour was reported near Jackson, Mississippi, the NWS said.

Freezing rain and ice storms were expected to move into northern New England through Monday.

National weather forecasters also cautioned that high winds were producing critical fire conditions in the Southern Plains. 
&nbsp 
On Friday, the system produced 17 reports of tornadoes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas, the weather service said. Four people were injured and 160 buildings damaged in a possible tornado in northwest Arkansas, local media reported.

An overnight storm killed a 1-year-old girl when a tree fell on a recreational vehicle where she was sleeping, the sheriff's office in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, said. State Governor John Bel Edwards said in a statement that emergency responders had been activated in anticipation of severe weather.

Some 750 flights in and out of airports in Minnesota and Toronto were canceled, the website flightaware.com reported.

The airport in Rochester, Minnesota, said on Twitter it had canceled all flights until Sunday morning "due to the extreme weather conditions." Rapidly falling snow also prompted Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to suspend flight operations into Saturday evening.

About 29,000 customers in Texas and Louisiana were without power on Saturday afternoon, along with an additional 50,000 in Michigan and Wisconsin, the website Poweroutage.us reported.

A powerful spring storm pummeled the US Midwest and Plains on Saturday with blizzard conditions and high winds, while tornadoes and thunderstorms menaced some of the South

A powerful spring storm pummeled the US Midwest and Plains on Saturday with blizzard conditions and high winds, while tornadoes and thunderstorms menaced some of the South. Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota were under warnings for blizzard-like conditions. The city of St&nbspPaul, Minnesota, declared a snow emergency. Forecasters were expecting more than a foot (30 cm) of snow in parts of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Wind gusts around Duluth, Minnesota, had exceeded 50 miles (80 km) per hour, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. "Mother nature continues to troll us," the agency's office serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul region said on Twitter, posting a video of snow falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches (2 to 5 cm) per hour. As the storm pushed south into Saturday evening, authorities warned that severe thunderstorms could bring gusting winds, flooding and hail. Severe weather warnings extended from Texas to central Alabama, which was under a tornado watch. At least one tornado packing winds up to 90 miles (145 km) per hour was reported near Jackson, Mississippi, the NWS said. Freezing rain and ice storms were expected to move into northern New England through Monday. National weather forecasters also cautioned that high winds were producing critical fire conditions in the Southern Plains. On Friday, the system produced 17 reports of tornadoes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas, the weather service said. Four people were injured and 160 buildings damaged in a possible tornado in northwest Arkansas, local media reported. An overnight storm killed a 1-year-old girl when a tree fell on a recreational vehicle where she was sleeping, the sheriff's office in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, said. State Governor John Bel Edwards said in a statement that emergency responders had been activated in anticipation of severe weather. Some 750 flights in and out of airports in Minnesota and Toronto were canceled, the website flightaware.com reported. The airport in Rochester, Minnesota, said on Twitter it had canceled all flights until Sunday morning "due to the extreme weather conditions." Rapidly falling snow also prompted Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to suspend flight operations into Saturday evening. About 29,000 customers in Texas and Louisiana were without power on Saturday afternoon, along with an additional 50,000 in Michigan and Wisconsin, the website Poweroutage.us reported.

'Snow Emergency' As Powerful Spring Storm Pounds Parts Of United States

A decorated former US Marine sergeant opened fire on police in Baton Rouge on Sunday, killing three officers, nearly two weeks after the fatal police shooting of an African American there sparked nationwide protests, including one shattered by the massacre of five Dallas policemen. 
 
The suspect, dressed in black and armed with a rifle, was himself shot to death minutes later in a gunfight with police who converged on the scene of a confrontation that Mayor Kip Holden said began as an &quot;ambush-style&quot; attack on officers. 
 
Two Baton Rouge Police Department officers and one sheriff&#39;s deputy were killed, and one sheriff&#39;s deputy was critically wounded. Another police officer and one other deputy suffered less severe wounds and were expected to survive. 
 
Colonel Mike Edmonson, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, told a news conference the gunman was believed to have acted alone, contrary to early reports that police may have been looking for other shooters. 
 
It was not immediately clear whether there was a link between Sunday&#39;s bloodshed and unrest over the police killings of two African-Americans under questionable circumstances earlier this month -- Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge on July 5, and Philando Castile, 32, near St Paul, Minnesota, on July 6. 
 
Police did not name the suspect. But a US government official told Reuters the gunman had been identified as Gavin Long, of Kansas City, Missouri, and was an African American. He was reported by other media to be 29 years old. 
 
According to Long&#39;s military record, released by the Pentagon, he served in the Marines from August 2005 until August 2010, achieving the rank of sergeant. Listed as a data network specialist for the Marines, he was deployed to Iraq from June 2008 until January 2009, earning several medals and commendations. 
 
Authorities declined to offer a possible motive for Sunday&#39;s attack in Louisiana&#39;s capital. 
 
Pandemonium caught on radio 
 
A second government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said investigators had reason to believe an emergency 911 call may have been used to lure police into harm&#39;s way. 
 
Edmonson said several officers came under fire as police were responding to a report of a man dressed in black standing behind a store holding a rifle shortly before 9 am. 
 
In the ensuing pandemonium caught on a recording of emergency radio traffic, police are repeatedly heard reporting: &quot;Officer down&quot; and &quot;deputy down&quot; as officers swarmed the area searching for and ultimately confronting the gunman. 
 
The episode was over in about eight minutes, according to Edmonson&#39;s account. 
 
President Barack Obama condemned the attack, vowed that justice would be done and called on Americans to focus on rhetoric and actions that united the country rather than divided it. 
 
&quot;We as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence on law enforcement,&quot; Obama said in televised remarks from the White House. 
 
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards called the shootings an &quot;unspeakable, heinous attack&quot; that served no purpose. 
 
&quot;There simply is no place for more violence. That doesn&#39;t help anyone, it doesn&#39;t further the conversation, it doesn&#39;t address any injustice, perceived or real. It is just an injustice in and of itself,&quot; he told reporters in Baton Rouge. 
 
Obama has sought to balance concerns about police abuses, largely against African Americans, while paying tribute to fallen officers. 
 
He attended a memorial service last week for the five Dallas police officers killed by a black former US soldier who opened fire at the end of an otherwise peaceful protest on July 7 denouncing the Sterling and Castile slayings. 
 
Those two killings and the reprisal attack on Dallas police by a suspect found to have embraced militant black nationalism renewed national tensions over racial justice and gun violence just as America&#39;s presidential campaign was kicking into high gear. The Dallas gunman, Micah Johnson, 25, was killed by police deploying a bomb-carrying robot against him. 
 
The wave of violence has also heightened security concerns across the country, notably in Cleveland and Philadelphia, hosts to this week&#39;s Republican National Convention and next week&#39;s Democratic National Convention, respectively, which are expected to formally nominate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the November 8 election. 
 
Worries around convention 
 
&quot;We demand law and order,&quot; Trump said in a Facebook posting on Sunday afternoon. 
 
In a statement, Clinton urged Americans to &quot;stand together to reject violence and strengthen our communities.&quot; 
 
The head of a Cleveland police union called on Ohio Governor John Kasich to declare a state of emergency and suspend laws allowing for the open carry of firearms during the Republican convention. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t care what the legal precedent is. I feel strongly that leadership needs to stand up and defend these police officers,&quot; Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen&#39;s Association, told Reuters in an interview. 
 
Loomis said he was concerned about copycat shootings at the Republican convention. 
 
A spokeswoman for Kasich said the governor did not have the power to suspend the open-carry law. 
 
Sunday&#39;s shootings occurred about a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where dozens of people were arrested this month while protesting Sterling&#39;s death. The father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. 
 
A witness to the Baton Rouge shootings, Brady Vancel, told CNN he saw a man dressed in black clothing and a ski-type mask running through a parking lot amid a hail of gunfire. 
 
Vancel said the gunman &quot;looked up and saw me. We stopped. I froze, he froze for a second, and he turned around and ran in the opposite direction the same time I turned around and ran in the opposite direction.&quot; 
 
Shocked community members lined the highway about a mile from the shootings, at the site of the protests against Sterling&#39;s killing. &nbsp; 
 
&quot;It never hits home until it&#39;s in your own living room,&quot; said Redell Norman, an activist who attended the recent protests at police headquarters. 
 
(Reuters)

Shooter identified as 29-year-old Gavin Long of Kansas City. He served in Iraq from June 2008 to January 2009. He was African-American

A decorated former US Marine sergeant opened fire on police in Baton Rouge on Sunday, killing three officers, nearly two weeks after the fatal police shooting of an African American there sparked nationwide protests, including one shattered by the massacre of five Dallas policemen. The suspect, dressed in black and armed with a rifle, was himself shot to death minutes later in a gunfight with police who converged on the scene of a confrontation that Mayor Kip Holden said began as an "ambush-style" attack on officers. Two Baton Rouge Police Department officers and one sheriff's deputy were killed, and one sheriff's deputy was critically wounded. Another police officer and one other deputy suffered less severe wounds and were expected to survive. Colonel Mike Edmonson, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, told a news conference the gunman was believed to have acted alone, contrary to early reports that police may have been looking for other shooters. It was not immediately clear whether there was a link between Sunday's bloodshed and unrest over the police killings of two African-Americans under questionable circumstances earlier this month -- Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge on July 5, and Philando Castile, 32, near St Paul, Minnesota, on July 6. Police did not name the suspect. But a US government official told Reuters the gunman had been identified as Gavin Long, of Kansas City, Missouri, and was an African American. He was reported by other media to be 29 years old. According to Long's military record, released by the Pentagon, he served in the Marines from August 2005 until August 2010, achieving the rank of sergeant. Listed as a data network specialist for the Marines, he was deployed to Iraq from June 2008 until January 2009, earning several medals and commendations. Authorities declined to offer a possible motive for Sunday's attack in Louisiana's capital. Pandemonium caught on radio A second government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said investigators had reason to believe an emergency 911 call may have been used to lure police into harm's way. Edmonson said several officers came under fire as police were responding to a report of a man dressed in black standing behind a store holding a rifle shortly before 9 am. In the ensuing pandemonium caught on a recording of emergency radio traffic, police are repeatedly heard reporting: "Officer down" and "deputy down" as officers swarmed the area searching for and ultimately confronting the gunman. The episode was over in about eight minutes, according to Edmonson's account. President Barack Obama condemned the attack, vowed that justice would be done and called on Americans to focus on rhetoric and actions that united the country rather than divided it. "We as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence on law enforcement," Obama said in televised remarks from the White House. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards called the shootings an "unspeakable, heinous attack" that served no purpose. "There simply is no place for more violence. That doesn't help anyone, it doesn't further the conversation, it doesn't address any injustice, perceived or real. It is just an injustice in and of itself," he told reporters in Baton Rouge. Obama has sought to balance concerns about police abuses, largely against African Americans, while paying tribute to fallen officers. He attended a memorial service last week for the five Dallas police officers killed by a black former US soldier who opened fire at the end of an otherwise peaceful protest on July 7 denouncing the Sterling and Castile slayings. Those two killings and the reprisal attack on Dallas police by a suspect found to have embraced militant black nationalism renewed national tensions over racial justice and gun violence just as America's presidential campaign was kicking into high gear. The Dallas gunman, Micah Johnson, 25, was killed by police deploying a bomb-carrying robot against him. The wave of violence has also heightened security concerns across the country, notably in Cleveland and Philadelphia, hosts to this week's Republican National Convention and next week's Democratic National Convention, respectively, which are expected to formally nominate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the November 8 election. Worries around convention "We demand law and order," Trump said in a Facebook posting on Sunday afternoon. In a statement, Clinton urged Americans to "stand together to reject violence and strengthen our communities." The head of a Cleveland police union called on Ohio Governor John Kasich to declare a state of emergency and suspend laws allowing for the open carry of firearms during the Republican convention. "I don't care what the legal precedent is. I feel strongly that leadership needs to stand up and defend these police officers," Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, told Reuters in an interview. Loomis said he was concerned about copycat shootings at the Republican convention. A spokeswoman for Kasich said the governor did not have the power to suspend the open-carry law. Sunday's shootings occurred about a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where dozens of people were arrested this month while protesting Sterling's death. The father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. A witness to the Baton Rouge shootings, Brady Vancel, told CNN he saw a man dressed in black clothing and a ski-type mask running through a parking lot amid a hail of gunfire. Vancel said the gunman "looked up and saw me. We stopped. I froze, he froze for a second, and he turned around and ran in the opposite direction the same time I turned around and ran in the opposite direction." Shocked community members lined the highway about a mile from the shootings, at the site of the protests against Sterling's killing. "It never hits home until it's in your own living room," said Redell Norman, an activist who attended the recent protests at police headquarters. (Reuters)

Louisiana police shootings: Decorated former US Marine sergeant identified as gunman who killed 3 police officers

Authorities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana say the ambush-styled shooting in their town that left three police officers dead is no longer an active shooter scenario, and that they are confident the shooter who killed the officers was the same as the suspect killed by other officers at the scene. 
 
The gunman died in a shootout with police a short time after he opened fire on the first group of officers, Colonel Mike Edmonson, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, said in a press conference. 
 
&quot;We do believe based on the information that we have... that the person that shot and killed our officers, that he is the person that was shot and killed at the scene,&quot; Edmonson said. 
 
A gunman killed three police officers and wounded three others in Louisiana&#39;s capital on Sunday, just days after the police shooting of a black man there sparked nationwide protests, one of which led to the massacre of five Dallas policemen. 
 
Officers in Baton Rouge were responding to a call of a man carrying a gun when shots were fired at around 9 am local time (1400 GMT). Two Baton Rouge police officers and one sheriff&#39;s deputy were killed. 
 
&quot;A call came into central dispatch of the Baton Rouge police department saying that there was a guy carrying a weapon, carrying a rifle, walking in that particular area&hellip; Baton Rouge PD officers at a convenience store observed the individual. He was wearing all black standing behind a beauty supply store holding a rifle,&quot; Edmonson said. 
 
The suspect, identified by a US official as Gavin Long of Kansas City, Missouri, was believed to have acted alone. Investigators suspect a 911 emergency call may have been used to lure police to the scene, the official said on condition of anonymity. 
 
It was not immediately clear whether there was a link between the shootings and the recent unrest over the police killings of black men in Baton Rouge and Minnesota. 
 
Authorities did not give any information about the gunman&#39;s possible motive. 
 
President Barack Obama condemned the attack, vowed that justice would be done and called on Americans to focus on rhetoric and actions that united the country rather than divided it. 
 
Obama has sought to balance concerns about police abuses, largely against African-Americans, while paying tribute to fallen officers. He attended a memorial service last week for the five Dallas police officers killed by a black ex-US soldier at the end of a protest against the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Minnesota. 
 
The Black Lives Matter civil rights movement has called for police to end racial profiling, bringing the issue to national attention ahead of the November 8 US presidential election. Republicans have pushed back, calling for support of the police. 
 
It is a time of especially heightened security across the country, notably in Cleveland and Philadelphia, hosts to this week&#39;s Republican National Convention and next week&#39;s Democratic National Convention, respectively, which are expected to formally nominate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the election. 
 
(Reuters)

Investigators suspect a 911 emergency call may have been used to lure police to the scene

Authorities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana say the ambush-styled shooting in their town that left three police officers dead is no longer an active shooter scenario, and that they are confident the shooter who killed the officers was the same as the suspect killed by other officers at the scene. The gunman died in a shootout with police a short time after he opened fire on the first group of officers, Colonel Mike Edmonson, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, said in a press conference. "We do believe based on the information that we have... that the person that shot and killed our officers, that he is the person that was shot and killed at the scene," Edmonson said. A gunman killed three police officers and wounded three others in Louisiana's capital on Sunday, just days after the police shooting of a black man there sparked nationwide protests, one of which led to the massacre of five Dallas policemen. Officers in Baton Rouge were responding to a call of a man carrying a gun when shots were fired at around 9 am local time (1400 GMT). Two Baton Rouge police officers and one sheriff's deputy were killed. "A call came into central dispatch of the Baton Rouge police department saying that there was a guy carrying a weapon, carrying a rifle, walking in that particular area… Baton Rouge PD officers at a convenience store observed the individual. He was wearing all black standing behind a beauty supply store holding a rifle," Edmonson said. The suspect, identified by a US official as Gavin Long of Kansas City, Missouri, was believed to have acted alone. Investigators suspect a 911 emergency call may have been used to lure police to the scene, the official said on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear whether there was a link between the shootings and the recent unrest over the police killings of black men in Baton Rouge and Minnesota. Authorities did not give any information about the gunman's possible motive. President Barack Obama condemned the attack, vowed that justice would be done and called on Americans to focus on rhetoric and actions that united the country rather than divided it. Obama has sought to balance concerns about police abuses, largely against African-Americans, while paying tribute to fallen officers. He attended a memorial service last week for the five Dallas police officers killed by a black ex-US soldier at the end of a protest against the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Minnesota. The Black Lives Matter civil rights movement has called for police to end racial profiling, bringing the issue to national attention ahead of the November 8 US presidential election. Republicans have pushed back, calling for support of the police. It is a time of especially heightened security across the country, notably in Cleveland and Philadelphia, hosts to this week's Republican National Convention and next week's Democratic National Convention, respectively, which are expected to formally nominate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the election. (Reuters)

Baton Rouge police shooter killed at scene

The President of United States Barack Obama condemned as &quot;cowardly&quot; a shooting that killed three police officers and wounded three more in the Louisiana capital of Baton Rouge on Sunday. 
 
&quot;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,&quot; Obama said in a statement. 
 
&quot;These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law and on civilized society, and they have to stop.&quot; 
 
A separate shooting in Dallas, Texas earlier this month killed five police officers during a demonstration triggered by the fatal police shooting of two African American men whose dying moments were captured in shocking video footage that went viral online. 
 
Obama said he had offered his &quot;full support&quot; and that of the federal government to authorities in Baton Rouge and to Louisiana state as a whole. 
 
&quot;And make no mistake - justice will be done,&quot; the President added. 
 
&quot;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.&quot; 
 
Obama stressed that the police officers in Baton Rouge, like those in Dallas before them, &quot;were our fellow Americans, part of our community, part of our country, with people who loved and needed them, and who need us now &ndash; all of us &ndash;&nbsp;to be at our best&quot;. 
 
The first African American president of the United States, Obama has made repeated calls for racial unity. 
 
During a memorial for the slain policemen, he insisted that &quot;we are not as divided as we seem&quot;. 
 
Donal Trump&nbsp;blames shooting on &#39;lack of leadership&#39; 
 
Republican Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;responded to the killing of three police officers in Louisiana by renewing his call for greater leadership and &quot;law and order&quot;. 
 
&quot;We grieve for the officers killed in Baton Rouge today. How many law enforcement and people have to die because of a lack of leadership in our country?&quot;&nbsp;Trump, the party&#39;s presumptive presidential nominee posted on Facebook. &quot;We demand law and order&quot;. 
 
(AFP and Reuters)

'There is no justification for violence against law enforcement,' he says. 'None. They right no wrongs. They advance no causes'

The President of United States Barack Obama condemned as "cowardly" a shooting that killed three police officers and wounded three more in the Louisiana capital of Baton Rouge on Sunday. "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 in a statement. "These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law and on civilized society, and they have to stop." A separate shooting in Dallas, Texas earlier this month killed five police officers during a demonstration triggered by the fatal police shooting of two African American men whose dying moments were captured in shocking video footage that went viral online. Obama said he had offered his "full support" and that of the federal government to authorities in Baton Rouge and to Louisiana state as a whole. "And make no mistake - justice will be done," the President added. "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." Obama stressed that the police officers in Baton Rouge, like those in Dallas before them, "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". The first African American president of the United States, Obama has made repeated calls for racial unity. During a memorial for the slain policemen, he insisted that "we are not as divided as we seem". Donal Trump blames shooting on 'lack of leadership' Republican Donald Trump responded to the killing of three police officers in Louisiana by renewing his call for greater leadership and "law and order". "We grieve for the officers killed in Baton Rouge today. How many law enforcement and people have to die because of a lack of leadership in our country?" Trump, the party's presumptive presidential nominee posted on Facebook. "We demand law and order". (AFP and Reuters)

Obama: The 'work of cowards'

US&nbsp;President Barack Obama on Sunday called for national unity after the killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge, and warned against using the deadly event to inflame political fighting during a charged political campaign.

Three police officers were shot to death and three others wounded in Baton Rouge on Sunday, less than two weeks after a black man was killed by police in the Louisiana capital, sparking nationwide protests.

&quot;Five days ago I traveled to Dallas for the memorial service of the officers who were slain there. I said that that killer would not be the last person who tries to make us turn on each other nor will today&#39;s killer. It remains up to us to make sure that they fail. That decision is all of ours. The decision to make sure that our best selves are reflected across America, not our worst. That&#39;s up to us,&quot; Obama said, in reference to the ambush-style killing of five police officers in Dallas earlier this month.

&quot;This has happened far too often. And I&#39;ve spent a lot of time with law enforcement this past week. I&#39;m surrounded by the best of the best every single day and I know whenever this happens, wherever this happens, you feel it. You families feel it. But what I want you to know today is the respect and the gratitude of the American people for everything that you do for us,&quot; Obama said.

He added the US&nbsp;has its &quot;divisions&quot; but said it is important the nation focuses on &quot;words and actions that can unite this country further.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

US president: Today's killer will not be the last person who tries to make us turn on each other

US President Barack Obama on Sunday called for national unity after the killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge, and warned against using the deadly event to inflame political fighting during a charged political campaign. Three police officers were shot to death and three others wounded in Baton Rouge on Sunday, less than two weeks after a black man was killed by police in the Louisiana capital, sparking nationwide protests. "Five days ago I traveled to Dallas for the memorial service of the officers who were slain there. I said that that killer would not be the last person who tries to make us turn on each other nor will today's killer. It remains up to us to make sure that they fail. That decision is all of ours. The decision to make sure that our best selves are reflected across America, not our worst. That's up to us," Obama said, in reference to the ambush-style killing of five police officers in Dallas earlier this month. "This has happened far too often. And I've spent a lot of time with law enforcement this past week. I'm surrounded by the best of the best every single day and I know whenever this happens, wherever this happens, you feel it. You families feel it. But what I want you to know today is the respect and the gratitude of the American people for everything that you do for us," Obama said. He added the US has its "divisions" but said it is important the nation focuses on "words and actions that can unite this country further." (Reuters)

Obama calls for national unity after Baton Rouge shooting

Three police officers were shot to death and several others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday.&nbsp;One suspect is dead and police are checking the shooting scene with a robot to make sure there are no explosives, Baton Rouge Police spokesman L&#39;Jean Mckneely said. 
 
Police are looking for two suspected surviving shooters, and the injured cops were reported to be in critical condition, according to AFP. 
 
Police told reporters that authorities are seeking more than one suspect and said the public should be on the lookout for people dressed in black and carrying long guns.&nbsp;WBRZ television reported a witness describing a man dressed in black with his face covered who started shooting indiscriminately. 
 
Earlier, a spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff&#39;s Office said police and sheriff&#39;s deputies were involved in the shooting incident, which occurred around 9am local time (1400 GMT).&nbsp;He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries. 
 
While the scene of the shootings was contained, police warned residents to stay away from the area, near Airline Highway, which is a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where dozens of protesters were arrested earlier this month. 
 
President Obama briefed 
 
A White House official said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge and will be updated throughout the day. The official added that the White House has also been in contact with local officials and has offered assistance. 
 
(Reuters)

Police are using a robot to check the scene and make sure there are no explosives. President Obama has been briefed

Three police officers were shot to death and several others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday. One suspect is dead and police are checking the shooting scene with a robot to make sure there are no explosives, Baton Rouge Police spokesman L'Jean Mckneely said. Police are looking for two suspected surviving shooters, and the injured cops were reported to be in critical condition, according to AFP. Police told reporters that authorities are seeking more than one suspect and said the public should be on the lookout for people dressed in black and carrying long guns. WBRZ television reported a witness describing a man dressed in black with his face covered who started shooting indiscriminately. Earlier, a spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said police and sheriff's deputies were involved in the shooting incident, which occurred around 9am local time (1400 GMT). He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries. While the scene of the shootings was contained, police warned residents to stay away from the area, near Airline Highway, which is a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where dozens of protesters were arrested earlier this month. President Obama briefed A White House official said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge and will be updated throughout the day. The official added that the White House has also been in contact with local officials and has offered assistance. (Reuters)

Louisiana shooting: Cops looking for 2 gunmen believed to be still at large

Authorities in Louisiana -- already rocked by the deadly police shooting of an African American man -- said Tuesday they have arrested three black youths for stealing guns they planned to use to kill officers. 
 
Police responded around 2:00 am (0700 GMT) on Saturday as the suspects were trying to steal weapons from a pawn shop, and surveillance video showed the trio breaking in through the roof, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. 
 
Antonio Thomas, 17, &quot;stated that he and three other suspects stole the firearms and were going to get bullets to shoot police,&quot; a police statement said. 
 
He was booked into prison on charges of simple burglary and theft of a firearm. It was not immediately clear whether the fourth suspect not in prison was on the run. 
 
Eight weapons were stolen. Authorities have recovered six of them and are working to find the other two. 
 
The other two robbery suspects -- Malik Bridgewater, 20, and an unidentified 13-year-old male -- were charged with burglary and theft of a firearm. 
 
Police also arrested Trashone Coats, 23, who police said allegedly purchased two handguns illegally on the street. He was charged with illegal possession of a stolen firearm. 
 
The suspects were arrested at various times during the investigation, though Thomas was arrested on the scene. 
Police said they worked in collaboration with the Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Sheriff`s Office and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 
 
Thousands of people have demonstrated across the United States against the latest fatal police shootings of two African American men, whose dying moments were captured in shocking video footage that went viral online. 
 
One of those killed was Alton Sterling, shot dead at point-blank range by a police officer in Baton Rouge. 
 
Most of the protests were peaceful, though a riot broke out over the weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota -- where the second of last week`s fatal shootings took place -- resulting in more than 100 arrests. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

?Thousands of people have demonstrated across the United States against the latest fatal police shootings of two African American men

Authorities in Louisiana -- already rocked by the deadly police shooting of an African American man -- said Tuesday they have arrested three black youths for stealing guns they planned to use to kill officers. Police responded around 2:00 am (0700 GMT) on Saturday as the suspects were trying to steal weapons from a pawn shop, and surveillance video showed the trio breaking in through the roof, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. Antonio Thomas, 17, "stated that he and three other suspects stole the firearms and were going to get bullets to shoot police," a police statement said. He was booked into prison on charges of simple burglary and theft of a firearm. It was not immediately clear whether the fourth suspect not in prison was on the run. Eight weapons were stolen. Authorities have recovered six of them and are working to find the other two. The other two robbery suspects -- Malik Bridgewater, 20, and an unidentified 13-year-old male -- were charged with burglary and theft of a firearm. Police also arrested Trashone Coats, 23, who police said allegedly purchased two handguns illegally on the street. He was charged with illegal possession of a stolen firearm. The suspects were arrested at various times during the investigation, though Thomas was arrested on the scene. Police said they worked in collaboration with the Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Sheriff`s Office and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Thousands of people have demonstrated across the United States against the latest fatal police shootings of two African American men, whose dying moments were captured in shocking video footage that went viral online. One of those killed was Alton Sterling, shot dead at point-blank range by a police officer in Baton Rouge. Most of the protests were peaceful, though a riot broke out over the weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota -- where the second of last week`s fatal shootings took place -- resulting in more than 100 arrests. (AFP)

Three held in Louisiana gun plot against police

Thousands of Dallas residents attended a candlelight vigil yesterday outside of the police department to honour five officers gunned down in an ambush last week. 
 
Authorities have named former US Army Reserve soldier Micah Johnson, a 25-year-old African-American, as the lone gunman in last Thursday&#39;s sniper attack in Dallas, which came at the end of a march by hundreds of demonstrations decrying the fatal shootings by police of black men earlier in the week.&nbsp; 
 
Officials said Johnson had embraced militant black nationalism and expressed anger over shootings by police as well as a desire to &quot;kill white people, especially white officers.&quot; 
 
Johnson killed Lorne Ahrens, 48; Michael Krol, 40; Brent Thomson, 43; Mike Smith, 55: and Hispanic officer Patrick Zamarripa, 32, a Navy reservist and a US Marine veteran. 
 
Dallas police officials said they grieved for the officers&#39; families and would always support them. 
 
&quot;We want these families, my brothers in blue, sisters in blue, for the citizens of this city, to feel love in powerful way, a way that will provide healing to us all in a time when we most need it,&quot; Dallas Police chaplain Sean Pease said during a prayer. 
 
&quot;Families, we love you. We love you with everything we have. We are now your surrogate family members. We&#39;re your brothers and your sisters. When you need us, you call. Because we&#39;ll not only be loving you today, we&#39;ll be loving you always,&quot; Chief David Brown said. 
 
Each officer was memorialised by a representative at the vigil. 
 
Smith&#39;s longtime partner on the beat entreated Dallas residents to use Smith as an example to better their city. 
 
&quot;I and those who loved Mike the most choose to honour his legacy by choosing -- because it is a choice -- not to let our anger darker place, but instead to we choose to continue Mike&#39;s fight for good and to not let the evil prevail. We will continue to protect and serve this wonderful city that Mike loved so much,&quot; Corporal St. John said. 
 
Thursday&#39;s rally in Dallas followed the fatal police shootings of Philando Castile, 32, near St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday (July 6), and Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday. &nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

'We want these families, to feel love in powerful way, a way that will provide healing to us all in a time when we most need it'

Thousands of Dallas residents attended a candlelight vigil yesterday outside of the police department to honour five officers gunned down in an ambush last week. Authorities have named former US Army Reserve soldier Micah Johnson, a 25-year-old African-American, as the lone gunman in last Thursday's sniper attack in Dallas, which came at the end of a march by hundreds of demonstrations decrying the fatal shootings by police of black men earlier in the week. Officials said Johnson had embraced militant black nationalism and expressed anger over shootings by police as well as a desire to "kill white people, especially white officers." Johnson killed Lorne Ahrens, 48; Michael Krol, 40; Brent Thomson, 43; Mike Smith, 55: and Hispanic officer Patrick Zamarripa, 32, a Navy reservist and a US Marine veteran. Dallas police officials said they grieved for the officers' families and would always support them. "We want these families, my brothers in blue, sisters in blue, for the citizens of this city, to feel love in powerful way, a way that will provide healing to us all in a time when we most need it," Dallas Police chaplain Sean Pease said during a prayer. "Families, we love you. We love you with everything we have. We are now your surrogate family members. We're your brothers and your sisters. When you need us, you call. Because we'll not only be loving you today, we'll be loving you always," Chief David Brown said. Each officer was memorialised by a representative at the vigil. Smith's longtime partner on the beat entreated Dallas residents to use Smith as an example to better their city. "I and those who loved Mike the most choose to honour his legacy by choosing -- because it is a choice -- not to let our anger darker place, but instead to we choose to continue Mike's fight for good and to not let the evil prevail. We will continue to protect and serve this wonderful city that Mike loved so much," Corporal St. John said. Thursday's rally in Dallas followed the fatal police shootings of Philando Castile, 32, near St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday (July 6), and Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Candlelight vigil honours police officers gunned down in Dallas ambush

&nbsp;Police arrested dozens more protesters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday after authorities warned they would not tolerate violence during street demonstrations over the fatal police shootings of two African-American men. 
 
Photos and video posted on social media by witnesses and journalists showed protesters being arrested in different parts of the city by police officers who told the crowds they were no longer holding peaceful demonstrations or that they were blocking major thoroughfares. 
 
Louisiana media, citing Baton Rouge police, reported that at least 48 people were taken into custody after demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday evening following an earlier peaceful march to the state capitol. 
 
The protests follow the shootings by police of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, 32, in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
Calls for demonstrations to remain peaceful in Louisiana and Minnesota came as authorities grappled with a wave of protests against police use of force that has swept the country in the past week. 
 
A US military veteran shot and killed five police officers at a spontaneous march in Dallas on Thursday, sending a chill through law enforcement as well as those involved in the mostly peaceful demonstrations. 
 
In Baton Rouge, police arrested 102 people on Saturday night and Sunday morning, mostly for misdemeanors for not leaving a major thoroughfare known as Airline Highway. Those arrested included DeRay Mckesson, an activist and former Baltimore mayoral candidate, officials said. 
 
Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference earlier on Sunday that he was proud of how the police had handled the protests so far, saying law enforcement had responded in a &quot;moderate&quot; manner. He also said the vast majority of protesters had acted lawfully and non-violently. 
 
Protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed &quot;to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities,&quot; Edwards told a news conference. &quot;Now I want to be very clear. That will not be tolerated.&quot; 
 
Edwards also said that blocking traffic was cause for arrest. 
 
In Minnesota, state police said more than 200 protesters shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul for hours on Saturday night to protest against Castile&#39;s killing. Officers were hit with rocks, bottles, concrete, construction materials and fireworks, police said. 
 
The city&#39;s mayor and a protest leader both decried the violence, which injured 21 officers and led to 102 arrests. St. Paul police said one officer suffered a broken vertebrae when a concrete block was dropped on his head during the protest on the interstate. 
 
&quot;We will not tolerate the kind of shameless violence we saw throughout the course of the night,&quot; St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman told a news conference. &quot;This doesn&#39;t honor anyone&#39;s memory.&quot; 
 
Outside agitators&nbsp; 
 
In St. Paul, Rashad Turner, leader of the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter group, told WCCO-TV that the throwing of rocks and bottles at officers was disturbing. He blamed outside agitators for the violence, not the protesters on the freeway. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s ridiculous. It cannot happen. It&#39;s not what we do here in St. Paul,&quot; Turner said. &quot;It does not honor Philando Castile.&quot; 
 
Authorities said 50 protesters were arrested on the Minnesota interstate and 52 others later on a street near the governor&#39;s mansion, the site of most of the protests since Castile was shot on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;Protesters last night turned into criminals,&quot; St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said. &quot;And I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some, not all, but some.&quot; 
 
Some 300 people attended a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon at the St. Anthony police department. St. Anthony police patrol the Falcon Heights suburb where Castile was shot. 
 
In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, police said protests outside their headquarters appeared to be becoming more violent as protesters arrived from out of town. 
 
After his arrest, Mckesson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the highway and released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail, according to the sheriff&#39;s website. 
 
Baton Rouge police confiscated three rifles, three shotguns and two pistols at Saturday night&#39;s protest and were wearing helmets, shields and body armor. 
 
Police said those arrested had ignored repeated orders to stay out of the street, while demonstrators said officers charged into the crowds seemingly without any obvious provocation. 
 
&quot;The only people who were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department,&quot; Mckesson told reporters after his release. &quot;The protesters remained peaceful, both here and across the country.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Louisiana governor said protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed and blocking traffic will be a cause for arrest

Police arrested dozens more protesters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday after authorities warned they would not tolerate violence during street demonstrations over the fatal police shootings of two African-American men. Photos and video posted on social media by witnesses and journalists showed protesters being arrested in different parts of the city by police officers who told the crowds they were no longer holding peaceful demonstrations or that they were blocking major thoroughfares. Louisiana media, citing Baton Rouge police, reported that at least 48 people were taken into custody after demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday evening following an earlier peaceful march to the state capitol. The protests follow the shootings by police of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, 32, in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Calls for demonstrations to remain peaceful in Louisiana and Minnesota came as authorities grappled with a wave of protests against police use of force that has swept the country in the past week. A US military veteran shot and killed five police officers at a spontaneous march in Dallas on Thursday, sending a chill through law enforcement as well as those involved in the mostly peaceful demonstrations. In Baton Rouge, police arrested 102 people on Saturday night and Sunday morning, mostly for misdemeanors for not leaving a major thoroughfare known as Airline Highway. Those arrested included DeRay Mckesson, an activist and former Baltimore mayoral candidate, officials said. Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference earlier on Sunday that he was proud of how the police had handled the protests so far, saying law enforcement had responded in a "moderate" manner. He also said the vast majority of protesters had acted lawfully and non-violently. Protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed "to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities," Edwards told a news conference. "Now I want to be very clear. That will not be tolerated." Edwards also said that blocking traffic was cause for arrest. In Minnesota, state police said more than 200 protesters shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul for hours on Saturday night to protest against Castile's killing. Officers were hit with rocks, bottles, concrete, construction materials and fireworks, police said. The city's mayor and a protest leader both decried the violence, which injured 21 officers and led to 102 arrests. St. Paul police said one officer suffered a broken vertebrae when a concrete block was dropped on his head during the protest on the interstate. "We will not tolerate the kind of shameless violence we saw throughout the course of the night," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman told a news conference. "This doesn't honor anyone's memory." Outside agitators In St. Paul, Rashad Turner, leader of the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter group, told WCCO-TV that the throwing of rocks and bottles at officers was disturbing. He blamed outside agitators for the violence, not the protesters on the freeway. "It's ridiculous. It cannot happen. It's not what we do here in St. Paul," Turner said. "It does not honor Philando Castile." Authorities said 50 protesters were arrested on the Minnesota interstate and 52 others later on a street near the governor's mansion, the site of most of the protests since Castile was shot on Wednesday. "Protesters last night turned into criminals," St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said. "And I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some, not all, but some." Some 300 people attended a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon at the St. Anthony police department. St. Anthony police patrol the Falcon Heights suburb where Castile was shot. In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, police said protests outside their headquarters appeared to be becoming more violent as protesters arrived from out of town. After his arrest, Mckesson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the highway and released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail, according to the sheriff's website. Baton Rouge police confiscated three rifles, three shotguns and two pistols at Saturday night's protest and were wearing helmets, shields and body armor. Police said those arrested had ignored repeated orders to stay out of the street, while demonstrators said officers charged into the crowds seemingly without any obvious provocation. "The only people who were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department," Mckesson told reporters after his release. "The protesters remained peaceful, both here and across the country." (Reuters)

Dozens more arrested in Louisiana after leaders warn against protest violence

Ten police officers were shot in Texas on Thursday during a protest against police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana, KDFW TV in Dallas reported.&nbsp;Three have died. 
 
Broadcaster KABC reported that shots were fired during demonstrations at Belo Garden Park in Dallas. Footage showed a heavy police presence with officers taking cover behind vehicles on the street. 
 
Photos posted on Twitter by the Dallas Police Department showed, what appeared to be, several hundred people assembled on the steps of a downtown museum with many holding signs as they listened to speakers address the crowd. 
 
In other photos and footage posted on Twitter, a crowd could be seen marching through downtown streets. Police said the crowd, at one point, chanted &#39;Black Lives Matter&#39;. 
 
The protests in Dallas came as demonstrations were being held in several US cities over the most recent fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. 
 
The police department did not respond to requests for comment and did not update their Twitter account since media reports of gunfire. 
 
(Reuters)

The Dallas demonstration started as a protest against the recent fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota & Louisiana

Ten police officers were shot in Texas on Thursday during a protest against police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana, KDFW TV in Dallas reported. Three have died. Broadcaster KABC reported that shots were fired during demonstrations at Belo Garden Park in Dallas. Footage showed a heavy police presence with officers taking cover behind vehicles on the street. Photos posted on Twitter by the Dallas Police Department showed, what appeared to be, several hundred people assembled on the steps of a downtown museum with many holding signs as they listened to speakers address the crowd. In other photos and footage posted on Twitter, a crowd could be seen marching through downtown streets. Police said the crowd, at one point, chanted 'Black Lives Matter'. The protests in Dallas came as demonstrations were being held in several US cities over the most recent fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The police department did not respond to requests for comment and did not update their Twitter account since media reports of gunfire. (Reuters)

Texas protest: Eleven police officers shot, five dead

Dozens of protesters in Louisiana yesterday chanted slogans and held up signs demanding justice for a black man fatally shot in an altercation with two police officers hours earlier, video postings on social media showed. 
 
The shooting comes at a time of fierce national debate and heightened scrutiny over the use of excessive force by police, especially against black men, in major US cities, such as New York, Baltimore and Chicago. 
 
Posts on Twitter showed the demonstrators gathered outside the Triple S Food Mart convenience store in Baton Rouge, where, police said in a statement, the man, Alton Sterling, 37, was shot by officers soon after midnight. 
 
&quot;No justice, no peace,&quot; chanted the protesters, who held up signs and occasionally blocked traffic, in images transmitted by media outlets in Baton Rouge. 
 
Police officials were not immediately available to comment on the shooting or the protest. Reuters could not immediately trace relatives of Sterling, or a representative, to seek comment. 
 
The altercation was reported outside a convenience store&nbsp; 
 
At about 12:30 am on Tuesday, two police officers responded to a disturbance at the convenience store where they encountered Sterling, the Baton Rouge Police Department said. 
 
Sterling was shot in the ensuing altercation and died at the scene. The officers where placed on administrative leave, police said. 
 
Several news stations on Tuesday evening aired what they said was cell phone video of the incident. It showed an officer using a stun gun on a red-shirted black man in a store parking lot and ordering him to get on the ground. 
 
The two officers then tackled the man to the ground, and one pulled a gun from his holster to point it at the man&#39;s chest, the video showed. 
 
At least three gunshots then ring out on the video clip, followed by the sound of a woman screaming and crying and a man asking whether &quot;they shot him.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The shooting comes at a time of fierce national debate over use of excessive force by police, especially against black men

Dozens of protesters in Louisiana yesterday chanted slogans and held up signs demanding justice for a black man fatally shot in an altercation with two police officers hours earlier, video postings on social media showed. The shooting comes at a time of fierce national debate and heightened scrutiny over the use of excessive force by police, especially against black men, in major US cities, such as New York, Baltimore and Chicago. Posts on Twitter showed the demonstrators gathered outside the Triple S Food Mart convenience store in Baton Rouge, where, police said in a statement, the man, Alton Sterling, 37, was shot by officers soon after midnight. "No justice, no peace," chanted the protesters, who held up signs and occasionally blocked traffic, in images transmitted by media outlets in Baton Rouge. Police officials were not immediately available to comment on the shooting or the protest. Reuters could not immediately trace relatives of Sterling, or a representative, to seek comment. The altercation was reported outside a convenience store At about 12:30 am on Tuesday, two police officers responded to a disturbance at the convenience store where they encountered Sterling, the Baton Rouge Police Department said. Sterling was shot in the ensuing altercation and died at the scene. The officers where placed on administrative leave, police said. Several news stations on Tuesday evening aired what they said was cell phone video of the incident. It showed an officer using a stun gun on a red-shirted black man in a store parking lot and ordering him to get on the ground. The two officers then tackled the man to the ground, and one pulled a gun from his holster to point it at the man's chest, the video showed. At least three gunshots then ring out on the video clip, followed by the sound of a woman screaming and crying and a man asking whether "they shot him." (Reuters)

Protests erupt in Louisiana after black man gets fatally shot during altercation with police

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