Police targeted in Texas, Missouri, Florida shootings

Police targeted in Texas, Missouri, Florida shootings

A suspect has been arrested after a series of shootings believed to be targeting police officers in the United States. 

San Antonio police chief William McManus said  Otis Tyrone McCaine, 31, was arrested without incident Monday afternoon (local time), after the shooting of 20-year-old veteran Benjamin Marconi. 

The shootings have left one officer dead and two others injured.

A fourth officer was also shot and injured, however he may have been hit by a fellow officer.

The shootings took place on Sunday (local time) across several states.

In Texas, 20-year veteran Benjamin Marconi was fatally shot as he sat in his patrol car outside the San Antonio police headquarters.

He was writing a ticket for a driver he had pulled over when another car parked behind him, walked up to his window and shot him twice in the head before fleeing.

San Antonio police chief William McManus says it's not believed the shooter knew the man Mr Marconi was ticketing.

"We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public," Mr McManus said.

In Missouri several hours later, a St Louis police sergeant was shot in the face when someone pulled up beside him at an intersection.

The officer was conscious and able to speak after the attack, police say, and the suspect was killed in a shootout after other officers recognised his car.

Police say the suspect was wanted for several violent crimes, including a suspected homicide, and likely shot the officer "in fear of being recognised".

"Fortunately for the blessing of God, the officer's going to survive," says St Louis police chief Sam Dotson.

During a traffic stop in Sanibel Island, Florida, one officer was shot while exchanging gunfire with a suspect.

He was wounded in his shoulder and treated in hospital before being released.

Local police officials say the shooting is a first for their department.

An officer in Gladstone, Missouri, was shot during a struggle with a suspect late on Sunday night.

The suspect had fled a traffic stop on foot and brought out a handgun when police chased him down and tried to arrest him.

He was fatally shot in the struggle, while the officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was also taken into custody but was released after questioning.

For many, the shootings have drawn a chilling reminder to the recent killings of police in Texas and Louisiana.

In early July, five officers were killed when a sniper targeted law enforcement at an anti-violence rally in Dallas.

The shooter was killed during a stand-off with police.

Ten days later an ex-Marine from Missouri shot dead three Baton Rouge officers in Louisiana.

Like in Dallas, the suspect was also killed in a stand-off with police.

"This is everyone's worst nightmare," Mr McManus said. "You never want to see anything like this happen.

"Unfortunately, like Dallas, like Baton Rouge, it's happened here now."

In response to the shootings, both St Louis and San Antonio police have issued guidelines saying officers must patrol with a partner.

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