Two police officers have been shot dead in Mississippi in the early hours of early Wednesday morning in Bay St. Louis, according to officials.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves identified the slain officers as Officer Branden Estorffe and Sgt. Steven Robin, according to a tweet from his verified account.
“I am heartbroken by this terrible loss of two brave law enforcement officers. I am praying for their family, friends, their fellow officers, and the entire Bay St. Louis community,” Reeves wrote. “Mississippians will never forget the sacrifice of these heroes.”
The two officers received a call for service at a Motel 6 on Highway 90, according to a news release from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. The officers encountered a woman who shot both officers before turning the gun on herself.
One officer died on the scene, and the second officer was taken to the hospital but later died.
Bay St. Louis Police Chief Toby Schwartz said at a Thursday news conference that both Robin and Estorffe were “trusted colleagues and outstanding officers.”
Robin was a 12-year law enforcement veteran who rose through the ranks to become a supervisor, Schwartz said, and served with the Bay St. Louis Police Department since 2019.
“He knew it was his job to make great cops out of young rookies,” he said. “He truly embraced his place as a role model in the profession. Steven did his job as supervisor extremely well, he provided so much love to those entering the profession.”
Robin was known to have a serious face described as “stone-like,” though Schwartz said Robin always had the best intentions for his officers.
Estorffe grew up in a law enforcement family and was known for his quick wit and charm, Schwartz said.
“Branden was an exceptional cadet who was truly going places in law enforcement and our police department,” he said. “He had a maturity, politeness and a professionalism about him not many 23- year-olds have.”
Neighboring law enforcement agencies are providing resources and responding to calls as the department processes the loss, according to Schwartz. Funeral information will be provided in the days ahead, he said.
Source: CNN.com