Officials ID New Orleans cop shot to death while on routine patrol
NEW ORLEANS, La. – A city police officer was shot and killed while on routine patrol early Friday morning, reports CBS New Orleans affiliate WWL-TV.
Police on Friday identified the slain officer as Marcus McNeil, 29, a three-year veteran of the force, WWL-TV reports. He is survived by a wife and two children, ages five and two.
The shooting happened shortly after midnight, police say.
According to New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison, four officers saw something happen at the scene while on routine patrol and got out and tried to make a stop. Harrison said when McNeil got out of his car, the perpetrator fired on him.
McNeil fired back and collapsed at the scene, while the perpetrator ran to a nearby apartment complex.
Several officers returned fire and the suspect was hit and brought to a hospital and arrested, authorities said. No other officers were wounded.
"Our officer has expired," Harrison said. "This hurts. I can't begin to tell you how much this hurts."
There was only one gunman, he said. Harrison said the shooter is believed to be a 30-year-old man.
There was a large police presence in an apartment complex near where the shooting happened.
New Orleans Police, Louisiana State Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had investigators at the scene.
