San Juan, PR – Three Puerto Rico police officers were killed on Monday afternoon during a traffic stop in the middle of a highway near San Juan International Airport.
Policia de Puerto Rico (PPR) Agente José Catalano said that two of the officers were members of a municipal police department in the San Juan area and the third officer was a member of PPR, which functions as the state police, the Associated Press reported.
Agente Catalano told the Associated Press that two of the officers were fatally shot and a third was run over.
Authorities said that the incident occurred during a “routine traffic stop” that turned into a gun battle.
“BREAKING: 1 police officer is dead in Puerto Rico after a shootout. @FBISanJuan says a motorcycle officer was ‘shot down’ while riding a motorcycle. 2 other officers were wounded a short time later. There was a shootout between police & at least 1 suspect,” CBS News’ David Begnaud tweeted.
BREAKING: 1 police officer is dead in Puerto Rico after a shootout. @FBISanJuan says a motorcycle officer was “shot down” while riding a motorcycle. 2 other officers were wounded a short time later. There was a shootout between police & at least 1 suspect. pic.twitter.com/4nX6sMpKAz
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) January 11, 2021
Police officials have not released the names of the fallen officers, the Associated Press reported.
Agente Catalano said the gunman had fled the scene and was still at large, although police have found and seized his vehicle.
The San Juan office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told the Associated Press they were assisting the PPR’s investigation but had no plans to claim jurisdiction at this point.
#BREAKING: At least two police officers fatally wounded in exchange of gunfire near Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico; third law enforcement officer reported deceased after being run over by vehicle – El Nuevo Día
— I.E.N. (@BreakingIEN) January 11, 2021
Breaking: At least 3 police officers reportedly killed after a police chase led to a shootout on a highway near San Juan’s International Airport in Puerto Rico. (Via El Nuevo Día) pic.twitter.com/57qDJ8oypq
— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) January 11, 2021
Breaking: Three police officers have been killed in Puerto Rico's capital following a traffic stop. Agent José Catalano tells the AP that two were shot to death and a third was run over.
— Dánica Coto (@danicacoto) January 11, 2021
BREAKING: Officers down in Puerto Rico – as many as 3 police officers have reportedly been wounded in an incident near the main airport in San Juan. Video shows one down in the middle of the highway.
Preliminary reports: this started with a carjacking pic.twitter.com/eWtv63i6iL— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) January 11, 2021
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of The Police Tribune’s posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.
Holly Matkin
