Law enforcement officers from different parts of the country have been the targets of violence, leaving communities in shock and mourning.
The tragic chain of events began in Austin, Texas, where Senior Officer Jorge Pastore lost his life in the line of duty. The Austin Police Department reported that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning when officers responded to a 911 call about a stabbing in South Austin.
When officers entered the home, the suspect opened fire, forcing them to retreat. The SWAT team was called in and a shootout ensued.
Pastore and another officer were hit by gunfire. Pastore died at the hospital from his injuries, while the suspect also died.
Pastore, who had been with the department since 2019, is survived by his wife, two stepsons, parents and two sisters. The Austin Police Association noted that this is the first time an Austin police officer has been shot and killed since 2012.
The violence against law enforcement extended to Virginia, where Virginia State University was placed on lockdown after an early morning shooting.
Officer Bruce Foster, 39, was shot while investigating a disturbance near the campus. The suspect fled the scene and Foster was taken to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
His current condition is unknown.
Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, Florida, two sheriff’s deputies are on the long road to recovery after being struck by a car.
Deputies Carlos Brito and Manny Santos responded to a call about a woman’s son acting erratically.
When they arrived, the suspect fled in his car and sped down the street, hitting the deputies. The suspect was later apprehended by another deputy who used a stun gun to subdue him.
Both deputies are currently recovering from surgery, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff emphasised the difficult road ahead for the wounded officers.