Gunman shoots 3 police officers, 2 bystanders outside New Orleans

Five people were shot and injured, including three police officers, at a suburban New Orleans home on Sunday, local police said.

Police responded to reports of a shooting in Kenner, La., at about 9:45 a.m., arriving to find two gunshot victims outside a home, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said. 

A standoff began between police and the gunman, 31-year-old Matthew Lathers, who already had an outstanding warrant for attempted murder and armed robbery. The home belonged to one of Lathers’ family members, police said.

When police obtained a search warrant and a SWAT team approached the home, they “immediately began receiving fire,” police said in a statement.

“At least one SWAT member returned fire. Three officers were shot, and it is unknown at this time if Lathers was struck during that initial contact.” 

After multiple attempts to negotiate Lathers’ surrender, a sheriff’s department sniper shot and killed Lathers, police said.

Two of the officers shot have already been released from the hospital, and the three other victims have been described as in stable condition.