Two police officers were shot in front of the Ferguson Police Department earlier this morning in an attack St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar described as “an ambush,” the Associated Press reported.
A small crowd of protesters had gathered across the street, “holding a demonstration in the wake of the resignation of the Ferguson police chief, who stepped down Wednesday.” As the protest began to break up, shots were fired and, based upon the trajectory of the bullets and where the officers had been standing, Belmar believes the shots were directed at police.
“This is really an ambush,” he said. “You are basically defenseless. It is hard to guard against.”
Belmar said that one of the officers, a 32-year-old from nearby Webster Grove, was shot just below his right eye and the bullet lodged behind his ear. The other, a 41-year-old officer with St. Louis County, was shot in the shoulder and the bullet exited through his back.
Thankfully, both officers have been released from the hospital, but Belmar noted how lucky they are to be alive.
“We could have buried two police officers next week over this,” he said.
Although suspects have been taken into custody for questioning, no arrests have been made.
Watch video of Chief Belmar addressing the media this morning.
