ABC NewsTwo Missouri police officers shot overnight in Ferguson were released from the hospital this morning after sustaining non-threatening injuries following a night of renewed protests, the St. Louis County Police said in a Facebook post.
“Both were in serious condition before being released from Barnes Jewish Hospital,” the post read.
The cops, who have not been identified, were “lucky” they weren’t killed, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar had said earlier today.
At a news conference held before the Facebook posting, Belmar said they heard “hear three or four shots ring out” before the officers were hurt, both of whom were seriously wounded from a shooter standing about 150 feet away.
“We are lucky by God’s grace that we didn’t lose two police officers,” he said.
One officer, 41, was struck in the shoulder; the other, 32, in the face, Belmar said.
“With both officers, we don’t have any remarkable long-term injuries,” he added.
PHOTO: The St. Louis County Police posted images on their Facebook page of a bloodied police helmet on the ground after two police officers were shot outside of the Ferguson Police Department early March 12, 2015.
Belmar said the shots were fired from an undetermined location north or northwest of the Ferguson Police Department building.
“Ladies and gentleman, we were very close to having what happened to the NYPD. We could have buried two police officers,” Belmar said.
The shooter has not been arrested. The search for the suspect or suspects is the “number one priority” within the St. Louis County police department, according to Belmar.
In a tweet, President Obama wrote: “Violence against police is unacceptable. Our prayers are with the officers in MO. Path to justice is one all of us must travel together. –bo”
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, in a statement released this morning, said, “This heinous assault on two brave law enforcement officers was inexcusable and repugnant. I condemn violence against any public safety officials in the strongest terms, and the Department of Justice will never accept any threats or violence directed at those who serve and protect our communities. … Such senseless acts of violence threaten the very reforms that nonviolent protesters in Ferguson and around the country have been working towards for the past several months.”
PHOTO: The St. Louis County Police posted images on their Facebook page of a bloodied police helmet on the ground after two police officers were shot outside of the Ferguson Police Department early March 12, 2015.
Holder also said he wished the officers “a full and speedy recovery.”
“We stand ready to offer any possible aid to an investigation into this incident, including the department’s full range of investigative resources. And we will continue to stand unequivocally against all acts of violence against cops whenever and wherever they occur,” he added.
Tensions simmered in the city on Wednesday night after the resignation of the city’s police chief, Tom Jackson. Hundreds of protesters gathered throughout the night, staring down police officers in riot gear.
A handful of people were arrested. Some people chanted, and other flare-ups were reported, unrest rekindled after a Justice Department report documented widespread racial bias in the city.
Jackson’s resignation makes him the sixth person who has been fired or forced to resign since the report was released March 4 detailing what it described as rampant racial bias in policing in the St. Louis suburb.
Lt. Col. Al Eickhoff will take over as the acting chief of police starting today as the city launches a national search for a new chief of police, the letter stated.
Jackson had initially come under fire in August for his department’s handling of the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
Brown’s parents released a statement today, calling the police shooting “senseless.”
“We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot and will not be tolerated,” the family said. “We specifically denounce the actions of stand-alone agitators who unsuccessfully attempt to derail the otherwise peaceful and non-violent movement that has emerged throughout this nation to confront police brutality and to forward the cause of equality under the law for all. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the officers injured during this morning’s shooting and their families.”
http://abcnews.go.com/US/ferguson-shooting-police-officers-released-hospital/story?id=29573803
makes you wonder if they will collect their pensions and decide to stop being a thug
that close call might be the last warning they get ,, they also got taught a very valuable lesson.. their cop buds are only there to draw the chalk line around them too .. tuff reality that just might wake one of them up…maybe
An awful lot of blood from a head, neck or chest wound to be cut loose and declared good to go?! BS
“wished them a full and *speedy* recovery”
Must have been shot with a .22 if already out of the hospital.
Were they Jewish? Why the Jewish hospital?
You’re on to something there, Chris.
“Lt. Col. Al Eickhoff will take over as the acting chief of police starting today as the city launches a national search for a new chief of police, the letter stated.”
Name has ashke-Nazi origins and “shots” did not come from protestors as per witnesses in other articles.
Gee, I did “Nazi” that coming!
I agree with Holder on most here. And his actions to expose what the American police are. This is just not a St. Louis problem. His replacment of the Head Judge was very important. Also a new cheif of police. Now if they can change it to were the judges no longer work for the police! And rturn justice to the courts it will be a big step to end this in America. We also can no longer aford police cheifs who the first thing they say. Is I see no wrong with the officers actions! Start doing a honest investigation and bring there officers up to comunity standards of civel behaviour! The Grand Jerky for all must end. Charges must be brought against the police for wrong. No more moving the trial across the State for a picked rig jury. And Justice restored to the American law systom top to bottom. As is today there is nothing in America that can be said to represent Law or Justice left.
Where do I get these magic bullets? Is there a magic bullet store online? Do I gotta recite some ancient sorcerous incantation to get a box of these magic bullets to appear before me? Does DARPA know about these magic bullets and if so, do they have them for sale?
I really want some magic bullets. The kind that can shoot through face shields without leaving a scratch.
“Both were in serious condition before being released from Barnes Jewish Hospital,” the post read.”
Huh?
Hahaha WTF