WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The 48 percent increase from 2015, when firearms were linked to 41 police deaths across the country, includes ambush-style attacks on officers.
Last weekend, four officers in three US states – Texas, Florida and Missouri – were targeted while conducting routine traffic stops. San Antonio, Texas police detective Benjamin Marconi died Sunday after being shot in the head; the three other officers were wounded and hospitalized.
Earlier this month, two officers in the state of Iowa were ambushed and killed in their patrol cars upon arriving at the scene of a reported shooting, and a New York City officer died from wounds suffered in a shootout.
In response to the most recent tragedies, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the US Department of Justice would assist efforts by state and local law enforcement agencies to reduce the frequency of police killings.
