New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Police Department Officer Marcus McNeil was ambushed and murdered early Friday morning.

The incident happened just after midnight when a group of officers on patrol spotted something suspicious.

Officer McNeil stepped out of his car to investigate and a gunman opened fire, shooting the officer repeatedly.

Other officers returned fire, shooting the suspect, who then ran into an apartment.

The gunman remained barricaded in the apartment until he eventually surrendered to a SWAT team.

Officer McNeil was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

New York Daily News reports that relatives of the gunman identified him as Darren Bridges. Bridges has a long arrest record including arrests for theft, domestic abuse involving strangulation, and possession of drugs.

Bridges was transported to the hospital where he’s being treated for his bullet-holes.

The motive for the shooting is still not known.

“Just routine patrol. He was doing his job, doing exactly what the citizens expect him to do,” Superintendent Michael Harrison said.

“These are the worst kind of days for the city,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “We want to keep the family in our thoughts and prayers. There were a lot of officers who knew this officer very well. The entire department is in trauma.”

“This hurts,” Supt. Harrison said, “I can’t begin to tell you how much this hurts.”

Officer McNeil was a three-year veteran of the department.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer McNeil. Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.

Officer Marcus McNeil, your life mattered.