A 41-year-old officer was shot in the shoulder and a 32-year-old was shot in the face early Thursday during a protest outside the Ferguson police department. The St. Louis County police chief said he believes the officers were the intended targets.
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Two police officers were shot early Thursday morning during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri, authorities said.
The injuries are not life threatening, according to a statement issued by the St. Louis County Police Department early Thursday.
The County police confirmed the shooting to BuzzFeed News in an email early Thursday morning. Chief Jon Belmar later said at a news conference that a 41-year-old officer from St. Louis County was shot in the shoulder. A 32-year-old officer from Webster Groves was shot in the face.
Both officers were conscious and being treated for their injuries at a nearby hospital, Belmar said. He did not provide details on their conditions, but added that “those are very serious gunshot injuries.”
The shootings happened as the officers stood together in front of the Ferguson Police Department on S. Florissant Road. Belmar said at least three shots came from the “north, northwest,” across the street. Police did not know Thursday morning who opened fire, but when asked if the shots came from protesters Belmar replied that “somehow they were embedded in that group of folks.”
He added that based on the bullet trajectories the shooter appears to have targeted the police.
“These police officers were standing there and they were shot, just because they were police officers,” Belmar said. “I would have to make an assumption that these shots were directed exactly at my police officers.”
The two officers have not been identified. The St. Louis County officer is a 14-year veteran of law enforcement, while the Webster Groves officer is a 7-year veteran. Police previously said the Webster Groves officer was a 5-year veteran.
Jennifer Arvin, a spokesperson for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, told BuzzFeed News they were treating gunshot victims early Thursday morning, but would not identify them.
