BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- An East Baton Rouge deputy has died after he was shot while conducting an investigation before midnight on Saturday night, East Baton Rouge and Louisiana State Police officials confirmed.
The shooting occurred near the Classic Cuts barber shop off O'Neal Lane, according to Louisiana State Police spokesman Bryan Lee.
Two deputies were conducting an investigation near the barber shop, located at 1962 O'Neal Lane, when shots were fired. A suspect also sustained injuries, according to Lee, which were being treated. The suspect's condition was not given.
The identity of the deputy won't be released at this point, EBRSO spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks said.
"It's a tragic night for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office," Hicks said. " ... We're focused on working with the family, praying for the family and making sure that our deputies have the help and support that they need."
Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie and East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome were at the scene and both expressed the need to keep the deputy's family in people's thoughts and prayers. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux was with the deputy's family at the hospital, Hicks said.
"My thoughts are this is certainly a tragedy for our community," Weston Broome said. "Our thoughts, our prayers, our condolences go out to the sheriff's deputy and his family."
Said Dabadie: "I think we are a very praying community and I think that thoughts and prayers are needed here and we come together just like we always do and always have. There's no doubt we won't here, also."
The deputy was transported from Ochsner Medical Center after 2 a.m. with a procession of law enforcement vehicles.
A large area near the AMC movie theater remained roped off in crime scene tape as police continued to investigate.
Hicks said Louisiana State Police would be conducting the investigation.
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