Posted on 08/16/2012 5:40:58 AM PDT by topher
Two St. John [sheriff] deputies and two civilians were reportedly shot in LaPlace at about 5:00 a.m.
UPDATE: WWL-TV reports that two officers are dead and two others were shot in the incident.
The incident occurred near Bayou Steel on Highway 3217 in a Valero plant parking lot. That highway remains closed at this time. The parking lot is located in St. John Parish, while the Valero plant itself is located in St. Charles Parish.
There is no word yet on the conditions of the officers or the other two people shot in the incident.
A witness on the scene called WWL Radio News and said that he heard "seven or eight shots" when it happened.
The witness said it appeared a police vehicle had been shot multiple times.
Police officers from several parishes are involved in the hunt for the gunman, including State Police, and deputies from Charles Parish, St. John Parish, and Jefferson Parish.
One deputy was air-lifted to the hospital, according to a witness.
WWL-TV reports that it appears that workers are being evacuated from the plant.
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