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3 American police officers outside of Dallas shot in past 3 days

Although the motives of these shootings are not fully known, at least one African-American suspect allegedly said he shot whites because of what police are doing to African-Americans.

The mass shooting in Dallas on Thursday saw more police officers killed on duty in one day since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Dallas shootings took place during an otherwise peaceful demonstration by Black Lives Matters after the deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. Both were African-American men who were shot and killed by police officers earlier in the week.

On Thursday morning, prior to the Dallas shootings, police say a man went on a rampage in Bristol, Tennessee. It is alleged the man, in possession of a high-powered rifle, a gun, and a lot of ammunition, began firing bullets into a Days Inn motel. A motel clerk was hit. The man also allegedly fired indiscriminately at cars driving on a nearby expressway. When three Bristol police officers arrived at the scene, the suspect engaged them in a shootout before being apprehended. The suspect was shot by police and taken to hospital where his condition was described as serious but stable.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect as Lakeem Scott, 37. In all, Scott allegedly shot four people, killing one and wounding three including one of the responding officers. According to the TBI, Sgt. Matthew Cousins received a wound to the leg. He was treated and then released from hospital.

Although the matter is still under investigation, the TBI believes Scott’s motive for the shootings was because of the recent shootings of African-Americans by police officers.

At around 11 a.m. Friday, a police officer was shot during a traffic stop in Ballwin, Missouri. According to Kevin Scott, the Ballwin police chief, the officer was conducting a traffic stop and after speaking to the driver, he returned to his patrol car to do some paperwork. It is alleged the suspect then left his vehicle, walked up to the police car and fired three shots at the officer with at least one striking his intended target. The suspect then fled but was later taken into custody after a foot pursuit.

KSDK reports as of Saturday morning, the officer remains in critical but stable condition. Antonio Taylor, 31, has been charged with first degree assault on a police officer, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is being held in jail on $500,000 cash bail.

Although no motive for the shooting has been determined, Chief Scott described the shooting as an ambush. The shooting was captured on the officer’s dashcam.

Around 8 a.m. Friday, police in Valdosta, Georgia received a 911 call from a man reporting his car had been broken into. An officer with the Valdosta police, Randal Hancock, responded to the call and as he was getting out of his patrol car, he was fired upon. Hancock was hit by three bullets; two struck his protective vest while a third hit the officer in the abdomen just below the vest.

Hancock managed to return fire and struck the suspect who has been identified Stephen Beck, 22. Hancock was listed in stable condition in hospital while Beck is reported to be in serious condition.

Although the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has ruled out any connection with the Dallas shootings, the incident was reported to be an ambush of the police officer. The investigation is continuing regarding the motives of the alleged shooter.

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