Nothing is routine while policing the community.
Via WAFB:
Officials say two Baton Rouge Police Officers were shot early Saturday morning and were rushed to the hospital. Top law enforcement officials are on the scene.
The shooting happened just after 5:30 a.m. on Fairfields and Scenic Highway, just east of I-110.
Officials say that one of the officers was responding to a disturbance call about damage to property. When the officers arrived at the scene, the officer and the suspect, identified by his Godsister as 22- year-old Calvin Smith, got into a verbal exchange before the suspect fled.
During the chase, a second officer arrived at the scene.
Officials say the chase ended at Fairfields Ave. and Scenic Hwy. where Smith went into his sister’s home and retrieved a large caliber semi-automatic assault rifle.
Smith then opened fire on the officers and the officers returned fire.
Both officers received gunshot wounds during the exchange. They were taken to a local hospital before EMS could arrive on the scene.
According to officials, one officer received a gunshot wound to the ribs. As of 9 a.m. it was said that the officer was in surgery but is listed in stable condition.
According to District Attorney Hillar Moore, the officer was wearing a bullet proof vest but was hit on the side where the vest comes together, traveled down and entered his body.
The second officer received a graze wound to the back of the head and is also listed in stable condition.
The identities of the officers have not been released at this time.
Moore says that the two police officers are lucky to be alive.
“One more inch and an officer is dead,” said Moore.
Smith, who was also shot during the exchange, was taken to a nearby hospital where his condition is unknown.