Two officers were wounded and a suspect was killed Saturday night in a shootout in a Baton Rouge, La. neighborhood, according to ABC affiliate WBRZ. The shooting occurred at around 6 a.m. after police chased the suspect in a two-mile car chase and has been deemed "totally justified" by a local prosecutor.
Police were originally called to respond to a property complaint after the suspect, 22-year-old Calvin Smith, arrived at his girlfriend's house and got into a confrontation with her mother's partner. Smith began destroying a car parked in the driveway of the property but left in a separate vehicle when police appeared on the scene.
A chase ensued for two miles before Smith pulled up at the home of Gina Chambers, who is his mother's godmother and had reportedly been hosting Smith at her home in Baton Rouge since December, the Associated Press reported. Smith then left the vehicle with a rifle and began shooting at officers, who then returned fire.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore told reporters that one officer was grazed by a bullet while another was shot in the stomach while wearing a bulletproof vest and that they "are fortunate to be alive," according to CBS News. Moore added that he believed the shooting to be "totally justified" after watching dashboard camera footage of the chase.
Smith was critically injured from gunfire during the incident and later died in the hospital Saturday night, WBRZ noted. He was reported to have suffered from longstanding mental health issues and had attempted suicide last year.
Both officers involved in the shooting will be placed on paid leave in line with police policy in the area.
