Two Iowa police officers were shot and killed Wednesday while they sat in their patrol cars – sparking a mass manhunt for the gunman.
The “ambush-style” attacks happened within a half hour of each other, Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek told reporters at a 5 a.m. press conference, NBC News reported.
The first officer was shot around 1:06 a.m. — at the intersection of 70th Street and Aurora Avenue in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale.
The second officer was shot blocks away in Des Moines at about 1:26 a.m., near the intersection of Merle Hay Road and Sheridan Drive.
“It doesn’t look like there was any interaction between these officers and whoever the coward is who shot them while they sat in their cars,” Parizek said, CBS News reported.
The chief became emotional as he described the shootings at the early-morning press conference.
Parizek added that Des Moines police has now paired up its patrol officers for protection so no officer is left on patrol alone. He explained there is “clearly danger” for officers in the area.
The identities of the slain officers were being withheld, as family members were still being notified. Their names and years of service are expected to be released later, The Des Moines Register reported.